[Lusty_bOOz]

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        CHAPTER 1 — WOH SUBAH KUCH ALAG THI
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Subah ke chhe bhi nahi baje the.

Gali abhi aadhi neend mein thi. Kahin door kisi mandir ki ghanti ki halki si awaaz hawa mein tair rahi thi. Ek doodhwala apni cycle ke saath gali ke kone se guzra, aur uske baad phir wahi shaant si subah.

Lekin ghar ke andar din shuru ho chuka tha.

Rasoi se bartan takrane ki halki awaaz aa rahi thi. Chulhe par chai ubal rahi thi, aur uske saamne Sonam khadi thi.

"Bas... bas..."

Usne turant gas dheemi kar di, warna chai hamesha ki tarah upar aa jaati.

"Subah-subah ek kaam bhi chain se nahi hota."

Woh khud se hi badbadayi aur phir muskurayi. Ye uski aadat thi. Ghar mein koi sun raha ho ya nahi, Sonam apne aap se baatein karti rehti thi.

Chavalis saal ki Sonam ki subah alarm se nahi hoti thi. Uski aankh khud hi khul jaati thi. Saalon se ek hi routine tha—sabse pehle uthna, rasoi sambhalna, chai banana, nashta sochna, pati ka tiffin dekhna aur phir ek-ek karke ghar ke baaki logon ko jagana.

Uski zindagi mein bade twists kam the. Uske din chhoti-chhoti zimmedariyon se bhare hue the. Aur shayad isi mein usse sukoon milta tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Sonam ne chai chhaani aur do cups tray mein rakh diye. Ek cup apni saas ke liye, doosra apne pati ke liye. Apne liye chai woh baad mein peeti thi—hamesha baad mein. Pehle ghar, phir sabke kaam, aur sabse aakhir mein khud.

Woh tray lekar drawing room ki taraf badhi hi thi ki peeche se pairon ki aahat sunai di.

"Arre mummy, meri chai?"

Sonam ne mudkar dekha. Uska bada beta aankhen malta hua khada tha.

"Abhi toh uthe ho aur chai yaad aa gayi?"
"Mummy, student hoon. Chai zaroori hai."
"Achha? Kal raat do baje tak phone chalana zaroori nahi tha?"

Beta ek pal ko chup ho gaya. "Phone nahi... padhai kar raha tha."

Sonam ne bhaun uthayi, "Haan haan, mujhe sab pata hai."

Beta hans diya, "Achha mummy, meri chai?"
"Kitchen mein hai. Khud le lo."
"Please?"
Sonam ne nakhre se use dekha, "Baitho. Laati hoon."
"Best mummy."
"Zyada butter mat lagao."

Sonam phir rasoi mein chali gayi. Uske chehre par ek halki si muskaan thi. Ghar mein bade bete ki ye chhoti-chhoti shararatein use achhi lagti thi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Chhota beta ab ghar mein nahi tha. College ke pehle saal ke liye doosre shehar gaya hua tha. Uske jaane ke baad ghar kuch khaali-khaali sa lagne laga tha.

Uska kamra waise hi tha. Kitabein ek taraf, purani cricket bat doosri taraf, almari mein kapde, aur bed ke kone par pada woh cushion jise woh jaane se pehle bolkar gaya tha—

"Mummy, ise hatana mat. Main wapas aakar use karunga."

Sonam ne aaj tak nahi hataya tha. Kabhi-kabhi woh kamre mein jaakar bas do minute khadi rehti, phir bina kisi ko bataye bahar aa jaati.

Aaj bhi usne subah kamra khola tha. Khidki se aati halki roshni bed par pad rahi thi. Sonam ne chadar theek ki aur cushion ko wahi rehne diya.

"Kitne din ho gaye..." Uske muh se dheere se nikla.

Phir phone ki taraf dekha. Koi message nahi tha. 

"Weekend par karega phone," usne khud ko samjhaya aur darwaza band kar diya.

Usse kya pata tha ki aaj ka din uske routine mein ek chhota sa badlav lekar aane wala tha. Aisa badlav jo us waqt bilkul chhota lagega, bilkul aam... Lekin baad mein yaad karne par, shayad sabse zyada khaas.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kareeb saat baje ghar poori tarah jaag chuka tha. Pati nashta kar rahe the, saas apni chai lekar verandah mein baithi thi. Bada beta apni kitaab kholkar baitha zaroor tha, lekin Sonam ko poora yakeen tha ki padhai se zyada uska dhyan mobile par hai.

"Phone neeche rakho," Sonam ne bina dekhe hi kaha.

Beta chaunk gaya, "Mummy, aapko kaise pata?"
"Main tumhari maa hoon."
"Ye toh cheating hai."
"Cheating nahi, experience hai."

Saas halki si hans padi. Ghar mein ek normal si garmahat thi. Wahi roz ka mahaul, wahi log, wahi awaazein, wahi zindagi.

Tabhi bahar se gate khulne ki awaaz aayi—Kharr...

Sonam ne pal bhar ke liye sir uthaya, "Kaun aaya itni subah?"
Pati ne bhi bahar ki taraf dekha, "Shayad koi pados mein..."

Baat poori bhi nahi hui thi ki verandah se awaaz aayi—
"Sonam!"

Sonam ekdum ruk gayi. Awaaz pehchaanne mein use ek second bhi nahi laga.

"Papa?"

Woh lagbhag daudti hui darwaze ki taraf gayi. Aur agle hi pal uske chehre par woh muskaan thi jo subah se ab tak kisi ne nahi dekhi thi.

Darwaze par uske papa khade the. Ek haath mein purana sa bag, doosre kandhe par gamchha. Chehre par safar ki thodi thakan, lekin aankhon mein wahi apnapan.

"Papa!"
"Arre meri beti!"

Sonam ne unke haath se bag le liya, "Aapne bataya kyun nahi ki aa rahe ho?"
"Batata toh tum itni khush thodi hoti."
"Main waise bhi khush hoti."
"Achha?"
"Bilkul."

Nana hans pade. Sonam ne unhe andar bulaya, "Aaiye, pehle baithiye. Paani laati hoon."
"Arey pehle mujhe apni beti ko toh dekh lene de."
Sonam hansi, "Main yahin hoon papa."
"Tu theek hai na?"
"Bilkul."

Nana ne use ek baar dhyan se dekha. Phir jaise tasalli ho gayi, "Achha hai."

Sonam ke liye ye do shabd hi kaafi the. Usne paani ka glass unke saamne rakha aur paas baith gayi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kuch der tak ghar mein sirf baatein hoti rahi. Gaon ki, purane rishtedaron ki, pados ke logon ki, aur beech-beech mein nana ke purane kisse.

Bada beta bhi unke paas aa baitha, "Nanaji, gaon mein sab theek?"
"Sab badhiya. Lekin tum dono bhaiyon mein se chhota wala kahan hai?"
"College."
"Achha haan," Nana ne sir hilaya, "Kitna bada ho gaya hoga."

Sonam ne dheere se kaha, "Kaafi yaad karta hai aapko."
"Main bhi karta hoon."

Ek pal ke liye Sonam chup ho gaya. Phir nana ne achanak kaha—

"Waise kal mere saath mandir chalogi?"

Sonam ne turant unki taraf dekha, "Kal?"
"Haan. Yahan ka woh bada mandir... bahut naam suna hai uska. Kaafi din se mann tha darshan karne ka."
"Toh chalenge na."
"Tu le jayegi?"
"Ismein poochne ki kya baat hai?"

Nana muskura diye, "Subah jaldi nikalna padega."
"Jitni jaldi bolo."
"Achha."

Nana ne chai ka cup uthaya. Phir jaise unhe kuch yaad aaya, "Ek aur baat hai."
"Kya?"
"Us shehar mein mera ek purana dost rehta hai."
"Achha?"
"Haan. Bahut purana dost hai. Kaafi saalon se mila nahi."
"Toh unse bhi mil lena."
"Milunga."

Nana ne jeb se phone nikala, "Unka beta bhi wahi hai."
Sonam ne bas aadhi nazar se unki taraf dekha, "Achha."
"Security department mein hai. Abhi kuch hi din pehle uski posting hui hai."
"Hmm."
"Main use phone kar deta hoon. Bata deta hoon ki kal hum aa rahe hain."

Sonam ne koi khaas dhyan nahi diya. Uske liye woh bas ek naam tha. Ek aise aadmi ka naam jise usne kabhi dekha nahi tha, jiski awaaz tak nahi suni thi, jiske baare mein usse kuch pata nahi tha.

Nana ne number dial kiya. Phone speaker par nahi tha, isliye Sonam ko doosri taraf se kuch sunai nahi diya. Woh uthkar rasoi ki taraf jaane lagi.

Tabhi nana ki awaaz uske peeche se aayi—
"Haan beta... main kal aa raha hoon. Mere saath Sonam bhi hogi."

Sonam ek pal ke liye ruki. Phir bina mudhe rasoi mein chali gayi.

Uske liye kal bas ek mandir ka safar tha. Ek subah ghar se nikalna, darshan karna, papa ko wapas laana, aur shaam tak phir wahi roz ki zindagi.

Us waqt Sonam ko bilkul andaaza nahi tha... ki kal ke us chhote se safar mein ek anjaan aadmi bhi uski kahani ka hissa banne wala tha.

[Lusty_bOOz]

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          CHAPTER 2 — ANJAAN MOD PAR PEHLI AAHAT
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Nana ke aane se ghar ka mahaul thoda badal gaya tha. Aisa nahi tha ki ghar mein pehle khushi nahi hoti thi, bas nana ke saath ek alag hi tarah ki ronak aa jaati thi. Unki awaaz, unke purane kisse, har doosri baat mein kisi na kisi rishtedaar ka zikr, aur sabse zyada... Sonam ka unke aas-paas rehna. Jaise beti banne ki uski purani aadat abhi bhi kahin andar zinda thi.

Dopahar ka waqt ho chuka tha. Sonam rasoi mein khadi sabzi kaat rahi thi aur Nana verandah mein kursi par baithe akhbaar padh rahe the. Kabhi-kabhi akhbaar neeche karte aur ghar ke andar jhaank lete.

"Sonam!"

"Ji, Papa?"

"Kitne baje chalna hai kal?"

Sonam ne chaku chalate-chalate jawab diya, "Aap batao."

"Subah jaldi nikalte hain."

"Kitni jaldi?"

"Suraj nikalne se pehle."

Sonam ek pal ke liye ruk gayi. "Papa, mandir ja rahe hain ya teerth yatra?"

Nana zor se hans pade. "Arre bheed se bachna hai."

"Achha," Sonam ne phir sabzi kaatni shuru kar di. "Toh paanch baje?"

"Paanch baje theek hai."

❖ ❖ ❖

Sonam ne mann hi mann kal ka poora hisaab laga liya—paanch baje nikalna hai, matlab chaar baje uthna padega. Chai banani hogi, nashta banana hoga, pati ka tiffin bhi dekhna padega, saas ke liye subah ki chai, bade bete ko bhi kuch khane ko dena hoga... aur phir Papa ko lekar nikalna hoga.

Usne ek gehri saans li. Kaam badh gaya tha, lekin ajeeb baat thi ki use thakaan mehsoos nahi ho rahi thi. Papa ke saath kahin jaana use hamesha achha lagta tha. Bachpan mein bhi jab Papa use mela dikhane le jaate the, toh Sonam poori raat excitement mein soti nahi thi. Ab woh badi ho gayi thi, shaadi ho gayi thi, bachche bade ho gaye the, zimmedariyan badh gayi thi... lekin Papa ke saamne aate hi uske andar ka woh chhota sa bachpan jaise wapas aa jaata tha.

"Sonam?"

"Hmm?"

"Sun rahi hai?"

Sonam ne palatkar dekha. Nana akhbaar neeche kiye use dekh rahe the. "Kya hua?"

"Main pooch raha hoon, mandir mein bahut bheed hoti hogi?"

"Haan, shayad."

"Toh subah jaldi nikalna achha rahega."

"Isliye toh paanch baje bola hai."

Nana muskura diye. "Samajhdaar ho gayi hai meri beti."

Sonam hans padi. "Abhi yaad aaya?"

"Tu bachpan se samajhdaar thi."

"Papa, aapko sab yaad hai?"

"Sab."

Sonam kuch nahi boli, bas halka sa muskurati rahi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Shaam dheere-dheere ghar par utarne lagi. Suraj ki roshni dheemi ho gayi thi, gali mein bachchon ke khelne ki awaaz aa rahi thi, kisi ghar se pressure cooker ki seeti, toh kahin se television ki awaaz. Sonam apne roz ke kaamon mein lagi hui thi, lekin aaj uske dimaag mein baar-baar kal ka safar aa raha tha. Mandir kaisa hoga? Papa kitni der rukenge? Wapas aane mein kitna waqt lagega? Khana saath le jaana chahiye ya raste mein kuch kha lenge?

Usne kitchen ki shelf kholi aur phir band kar di. "Do paranthe bana dungi," usne khud se kaha, "Papa ko aloo wale pasand hain."

Phir ek pal ke liye use kuch aur yaad aaya—Papa ne dopahar mein jis aadmi ka zikr kiya tha... wahi security department wala. Sonam ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Pata nahi kyun uske dimaag mein uski baat phir se aa gayi.

Papa ke dost ka beta... usne dheere se socha, phir turant apne aap ko toka, Ismein sochne wali kya baat hai? Uske liye woh aadmi bas Papa ke dost ka beta tha. Bas. Na koi pehchaan, na koi rishta, na koi wajah ki uske baare mein socha jaaye.

Sonam ne shelf se aata nikala. "Kal ka din bas Papa ke saath guzarna hai," usne mann hi mann kaha, "Mandir jaana hai aur wapas aa jaana hai." Usne apne aap ko ek baar phir kaam mein laga diya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Raat ko khana khane ke baad ghar dheere-dheere shaant hone laga. Saas apne kamre mein chali gayi, bada beta bhi apne kamre mein padhne ke naam par chala gaya, pati television dekh rahe the, Nana verandah mein baithe the, aur Sonam kitchen samet rahi thi.

Tabhi uske phone par notification aaya. Usne haath pochkar phone uthaya—chhote bete ka message tha: "Mummy, kal call karunga."

Sonam ke chehre par turant muskaan aa gayi. Usne reply kiya: "Kal busy rahungi. Mandir ja rahi hoon Papa ke saath."

Kuch hi der mein reply aaya: "Achha. Mere liye bhi prasad lana."

Sonam ne message padhkar phone seene ke paas laga liya. "Pagal," usne dheere se kaha aur phir reply type kiya: "Doongi."

Phone rakhne ke baad woh kuch der wahi khadi rahi. Usne mehsoos kiya ki ghar mein sab kuch badal raha tha—bachche bade ho rahe the, bada beta dheere-dheere apni duniya bana raha tha, chhota beta doosre shehar mein padh raha tha, pati apne kaam mein vyast rehte the... aur woh ab bhi isi ghar ke beech khadi thi. Sabke liye.

Kabhi-kabhi use lagta tha ki uski apni zindagi jaise doosron ki zarooraton ke beech kahin chhoti si jagah bana kar reh gayi hai. Lekin kya usse is baat ki shikayat thi? Sonam ne khud se poocha. Thodi der chup rahi, phir mann ne jawab diya—Nahi. Use apna ghar pasand tha, apne log pasand the, apni zimmedariyan bhi. Bas kabhi-kabhi... bahut kabhi-kabhi... use lagta tha ki koi usse bhi pooche—"Sonam, tum kya chahti ho?"

Usne turant ye khayal apne dimaag se nikaal diya. "Faltu soch rahi hoon."

Usne kitchen ki light band ki. Raat kaafi ho chuki thi aur sab apne-apne kamron mein ja chuke the. Sonam ne kal ke liye kapde nikaal kar rakh diye—ek simple sa suit, comfortable dupatta, jute aur ek chhota sa bag... prasad rakhne ke liye kapda, paani ki bottle, thoda sa nashta. Sab kuch taiyar karne ke baad usne ek baar ghadi dekhi. "Ab sona chahiye."

Lekin bed par jaane se pehle woh ek baar nana ke kamre ke paas ruk gayi. Andar se unki halki si khansi ki awaaz aayi.

"Papa, so gaye?"

"Abhi nahi."

"Kal paanch baje uthna hai."

"Haan meri maa."

Sonam hans padi. "Alarm laga lena."

"Tu laga dena."

"Aapko mujh par hi bharosa hai."

"Sabse zyada."

Sonam kuch pal chup rahi, phir dheere se boli, "Good night, Papa."

"Good night, beti."

Sonam apne kamre mein wapas aa gayi. Light band ki aur bed par let gayi, lekin neend aane mein waqt laga. Kal ka safar uske dimaag mein ghoom raha tha—mandir, Papa, subah ki thandi hawa, lambe raste aur ek anjaan shehar. Aur phir... Papa ke dost ka woh beta.

Sonam ne aankhen band kar li. "Jo bhi hai..." usne mann hi mann kaha, "Kal mil bhi gaya toh kya? Main toh Papa ke saath ja rahi hoon." Uske chehre par halki si muskaan aa gayi aur ye sochkar usne karwat badli.

Usse bilkul nahi pata tha ki kabhi-kabhi zindagi ke sabse bade badlav kisi bade faisle ke saath nahi aate... kabhi-kabhi woh bas ek chhote se safar ka hissa bankar chale aate hain.

Aur agle din... Sonam ko usi safar par jaana tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Subah ke paanch baje ka waqt tha.

Aasman mein abhi bhi halka sa andhera aur thandak ghuli hui thi. Sonam ne hamesha ki tarah sabse pehle uthkar mandir jaane ki tayyari shuru kar di. Suti (cotton) ki ek saadhna bhari saree, maathe par chhoti si bindi, aur baalon ka ek saadha bun—woh bilkul shant aur tayyar thi.

Nana ji verandah mein apna purana leather ka chappal pehen rahe the.

"Sonam, tayyar ho gayi?" Nana ji ne pucha.

"Haan papa, bas do minute. Aapke liye flask mein garam pani aur kuch biscuits rakh liye hain. Raaste mein zaroorat pad sakti hai."

"Mera dhyan rakhne mein tu kabhi kamzor nahi padti," Nana ji ne muskurayi hui aankhon se dekha.

Dono ghar se nikal gaye. Auto-rickshaw mein baithte hi subah ki thandi hawa chehre se takrayi. Mandir shahariya ilake se thoda door, ek chhoti si pahadi ke paas tha.

Raaste bhar Nana ji apne dost aur unke parivaar ke baare mein baatein karte rahe.

"Woh jo mera dost hai na—Ramesh... hum zamane pehle ek hi gaon mein padhte the. Phir woh security officer security service mein chala gaya. Uska beta, Vikram... woh bhi ab usi mahakme mein bada afsar hai. Bahut sharafat aur kanoon ka pakka ladka hai."

Sonam ne bas haan mein sir hila diya. Use yeh baatein rozmarra ki aam charcha lag rahi thi. Uska dhyan toh bas is baat par tha ki mandir mein darshan theek se ho jayein aur Nana ji thak na jayein.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ghar se kareeb ek ghante door, shahri security headquarters ke ek bade se sarkari bangley mein bhi subah ki halchal shuru ho chuki thi.

Vikram Rathore—security department ka ek sanjhida aur apne kaam ke prati behad imaandar afsar.

Chaalis saal ka Vikram, unch-poora, mazboot kad-kathi aur gambhir chehre wala aadmi tha. Uski zindagi mein kaanoon, discipline aur duty ke ilawa zyada kuch nahi tha. Raat ko der se aane ke bawajood, woh subah jaldi uthne ka aadi tha.

Woh apne study room mein betha kuch sarkari files dekh raha tha jab uske phone par Nana ji (Ramesh ji ke purane dost) ki missed call dikhi. Usne turant wapas call milaya.

"Pranam Uncle ji. Kal aapka phone aaya tha, main duty par tha isliye baat nahi ho payi."

Doosri taraf se Nana ji ki awaaz aayi, "Arre Vikram beta! Koi baat nahi. Main aur meri beti Sonam abhi mandir ke paas hi pahuche hain. Darshan ke baad tumse milne ka soch rahe the."

"Uncle ji, aap wahan rukiye. Mandir ke paas aaj subah se koi sarkari VIP movement hai, wahan bheed aur security check bohot zyada hoga. Main abhi gaadi bhejta hoon ya khud aata hoon."

"Nahi nahi beta, takleef mat lo. Hum toh darshan karke wapas..."

"Nahi Uncle ji, takleef ki koi baat nahi. Aap mandir ke main gate ke paas banyan tree (bargad ke ped) ke neeche baithiye. Main 15 minute mein pahuch raha hoon."

Vikram ne phone rakha, apna jacket pehna, aur gaadi ki chaabi uthakar nikal pada. Uske dimag mein bas apne pita ke purane dost ki sahayata karne ka khayal tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Mandir ke bahar sach mein kaafi bheed thi. security officer ki barricading lagi hui thi aur har jagah checking chal rahi thi.

Nana ji thodi door bargad ke ped ke neeche bani cement ki bench par baith gaye. Sonam unke paas hi khadi thi, apne aanchal se aane wali dhoop ko Nana ji ke chehre se dhakne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

"Papa, bohot bheed hai. Aap yahan baitho, main paani ki botal lekar aati hoon."

"Tu zyada door mat jana Sonam, bheed mein ghum mat ho jana," Nana ji ne fikar se kaha.

"Main bacchi nahi hoon papa," Sonam ne muskura kar kaha aur paas ki dukan ki taraf badh gayi.

Dukan par logon ki lambi line thi. Sonam paani ki botal lekar wapas mud hi rahi thi ki achanak bheed mein ek tezz dhakka laga. Kisi VIP ke aane ki wajah se security officer cordon aage badha rahi thi.

Sonam ka paon phisal gaya aur uske haath se botal chhut gayi.

Woh girne hi wali thi ki ek mazboot haath ne use baah se pakad kar sambhal liya.

❖ ❖ ❖

"Aap theek hain?"

Ek gehri, sanjhida aur ekdum saaf awaaz Sonam ke kaanon mein padi.

Sonam ne ghabra kar upar dekha.

Uske samne ek lambe kad ka aadmi khada tha. Safed shirt, dark trousers, aur chehre par ek aisi gambhirta jo bina kahe roab bayan karti thi. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa tezz tha, lekin bolne ke tarike mein behad adab.

Sonam ne turant apna haath peeche khinch diya aur apni saree ka aanchal theek kiya. Uski dhadkan thodi tezz ho gayi thi.

"Haan... haan, main theek hoon. Shukriya."

Vikram ne ek pal ke liye Sonam ke chehre ko dekha. Koi decorative makeup nahi, koi dikawa nahi—bas ek sadharan, shant aur gehri saadgi. Vikram, jo rozana sau tarah ke logon aur aam-o-khaas se milta tha, is aam si aurat ke chehre ki shanti ko dekhkar ek pal ko ruk sa gaya.

Tabhi Vikram ke pocket mein pada walkie-talkie baj utha—
"Sir, VIP convoy gate number 2 se enter kar raha hai."

Vikram ne mic press kiya, "Copy that. Control the main gate."

Sonam ne use dekha aur samajh gayi ki yeh koi bada afsar hai. Usne nazar neeche kar li aur bina kuch bole Nana ji ki taraf badhne lagi.

Vikram ne bhi use aage badhte dekha, lekin duty ki wajah se use doosri taraf jana pada.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kuch der baad, bheed thodi kam hui. Sonam Nana ji ke paas pahuche aur botal unhe pakdayi.

"Kitni der laga di Sonam? Main toh pareshan ho raha tha."

"Woh papa, bheed bohot thi..." Sonam ne baat poori nahi ki. Uska dhyan abhi bhi us anjaan shakhs ki gehri awaaz par tha.

Tabhi ek kaali gaadi ped ke paas aakar ruki. Gaadi ka darwaza khula aur usmein se wahi aadmi bahar nikla.

Nana ji ekdum khade ho gaye, "Arre Vikram beta!"

Sonam ke kadam wahi ruk gaye. Usne hairani se upar dekha.

Vikram ne aage badhkar Nana ji ke paon chhuye, "Pranam Uncle ji. Maaf karna, thoda late ho gaya, mandir ke bahar kuch security arrangements dekhne pad rahe the."

"Arre koi baat nahi beta! Tu toh bilkul apne baap par gaya hai," Nana ji ne khush hokar uske shoulder par haath rakha. Phir unhone peeche mudi hui Sonam ki taraf ishara kiya—

"Vikram, yeh meri beti hai... Sonam."

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein halki si hairani ka bhav aaya—woh samajh gaya ki yeh wahi aurat thi jise usne abhi bheed mein girne se bachaya tha.

Sonam ne bhi use dekha. Dono ki nazrein milin.

Vikram ne bohot hi tehzeeb se apne dono haath jode, "Namaste."

Sonam ne halki si nazar jhukayi aur haath jodh kar dheere se kaha—

"Namaste."

Gali ki shaant subah se shuru hua yeh din... ab ek aisi raah par mud chuka tha jahan do anjaan zindagiya pehli baar ek doosre ke samne khadi thin.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
       CHAPTER 3 — CHAI KI CHUSKYAN AUR EK PEHCHAAN
================================================== 


Mandir ke baher halki si chahal-pahal abhi bhi jaari thi.

Vikram ne Nana ji ki taraf dekha aur bohot hi adab se kaha, "Uncle ji, yahan bahar khade rehna theek nahi hai. Bheed aur badh rahi hai. Aap aur Sonam ji mere saath gaadi mein baithiye, pehle ghar chalkar thoda aaram kar lijiye."

Nana ji ne muskurate hue haan mein sir hila diya. "Tu kehta hai toh chal padte hain beta. Waise bhi darshan toh bohot achhe se ho gaye."

Vikram ne aage badhkar gaadi ka pichhla darwaza khola. Pehle Nana ji baithe, phir Sonam ne thodi jhijhak ke saath gaadi mein kadam rakha.

Sonam ne aaj tak kabhi kisi sarkari officer ki gaadi mein iss tarah safar nahi kiya tha. Gaadi ke andar ek ajeeb sa shant aur niyamit mahaul tha. Vikram aage ki seat par baitha hua tha aur driving mirror se peeche ka rasta dekh raha tha.

Dono ki nazrein ek pal ke liye mirror mein takrayin, lekin Sonam ne turant apni nazar khidki se bahar ghuma li.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kareeb bees minute baad gaadi Vikram ke sarkari bangley ke aangan mein ruk gayi. Bangala zyada bada nahi tha, lekin har cheez bohot hi neatly arranged thi.

"Aaiye Uncle ji," Vikram ne unhe andar bulaya.

Sonam bhi Nana ji ke peeche-peeche drawing room mein aayi. Kamre ki devarein safed thin, ek taraf bookshelves par kaanoon aur security se judi kitabein rakhi thin, aur doosri taraf ek purani ghadi tik-tik kar rahi thi.

"Baitiye aap dono. Main chai banwane ko kehta hoon," Vikram ne kaha.

"Arre nahi nahi Vikram beta," Nana ji ne rokte hue kaha. "Chai toh Sonam banayegi. Tumhare ghar ki rasoi kahan hai?"

Sonam ne hairani se Nana ji ki taraf dekha. "Papa..."

"Arre ismein kya baat hai? Sonam ke haath ki chai nahi peeyi toh tumne kuch nahi peeya beta," Nana ji ne khush hokar kaha.

Vikram ne halka sa muskura kar Sonam ki taraf dekha. Uski muskaan mein ek aisi shafafiyat thi jo uske gambhir chehre par kam hi dikhti thi.

"Agar aapko koi takleef na ho Sonam ji, toh rasoi us taraf hai. Rasoi mein caretakers hain, woh aapki madad kar denge."

Sonam ne halka sa sir jhukaya aur rasoi ki taraf badh gayi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Rasoi mein pahunchkar Sonam ne ek gehri saans li. Usko samajh nahi aa raha tha ki use yeh ajeeb si jhijhak kyun ho rahi thi. Woh toh roz ghar mein sabke liye chai banati thi.

Usne chupchap chulhe par paani chadhaya, adrak kuta, aur chai patti daali. Uski aadat ke mutabiq woh chai ki taraf dhyan se dekh rahi thi ki kahin woh ubal kar bahar na aa jaye.

Tabhi rasoi ke darwaze par aahat hui.

Vikram wahan khada tha. Usne apni jacket utar di thi aur shirt ke sleeves ko thoda upar mod rakha tha.

"Aapko sab samaan mil gaya?" Vikram ne pucha.

Sonam chaunk gayi aur turant mudkar boli, "Haan... haan, sab mil gaya. Bas do minute mein chai ban jayegi."

Vikram ne dekha ki Sonam abhi bhi thodi nervous thi. Usne behad narmi se kaha, "Aapko pareshan hone ki zaroorat nahi hai Sonam ji. Uncle ji mere pita jaise hain, aap bilkul apne ghar jaisa hi samjhiye."

Sonam ne uski taraf dekha. Vikram ki aankhon mein behad izzat aur apnapan tha.

"Ji, shukriya," Sonam ke muh se bas itna hi nikla.

"Main bahar Uncle ji ke paas hoon," Vikram itna kehkar wapas drawing room mein chala gaya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Sonam tray mein teen cup chai aur biscuits lekar drawing room mein aayi.

Usne ek cup Nana ji ko diya aur doosra cup Vikram ke saamne meez par rakh diya. Phir woh Nana ji ke paas baith gayi.

Nana ji ne chai ka ek ghoont liya aur taarif mein sir hilaya. "Dekha Vikram? Main kehta tha na, Sonam ke haath ki chai mein ek alag hi garmahat hoti hai."

Vikram ne bhi apna cup uthaya aur ek ghoont peeya. Usne cup neeche rakha aur Sonam ki taraf dekhkar kaha—

"Sach mein Uncle ji. Bohot waqt baad aisi ghar jaisi chai peene ko mili hai."

Sonam ne ek chhoti si muskaan ke saath nazar jhuka li.

"Waise Vikram beta," Nana ji ne baat aage badhayi. "Tumhari posting toh abhi kuch mahine pehle hi hui hai na? Tumhari akele ki zindagi mein ghar sambhalna aur duty karna mushkil toh hota hoga?"

Vikram ka chehra ek pal ke liye thoda shant aur gambhir ho gaya.

"Zindagi ka niyam hai Uncle ji, kaam ke saath akelepan ki aadat daalni padti hai. Waise bhi duty itni hoti hai ki sochne ka waqt kam hi milta hai."

Sonam ne silent hokar Vikram ke inn shabdon ko suna.

Usne mehsoos kiya ki iss lambe, roabdaar aur sakht afsar ke andar bhi ek akelapan chupa hua tha. Thik waise hi jaise Sonam ki apni zindagi mein, ghar ke kaam aur zimmedariyon ke beech, uska apna akelapan chupa rehta tha.

Dono ki zindagiyon ke raste bilkul alag the... lekin us subah, chai ke un cups ke beech, ek anjaan rishte ka pehla dhaaga judne laga tha.



================================================== 
       CHAPTER 4  ANJAAN SHEHAR KA EK NAYA RASTA
================================================== 

Chai khatam hone ke baad Nana ji ne apni jeb se ghadi nikali.

"Chalo Sonam, ab humein nikalna chahiye. Dopehar ki bus pakadni hai, warna ghar pahunchte-pahunchte shaam ho jayegi."

Vikram ne turant Nana ji ki taraf dekha.

"Uncle ji, aap itni jaldi waise bhi nahi ja rahe hain. Aaj sunday hai aur meri shaam tak koi urgent duty nahi hai. Main aap dono ko shehar ke kuch achhe ilake dikha deta hoon, phir shaam ko aapko gaadi se hi ghar chhod doonga."

Sonam ne thodi jhijhak ke saath kaha, "Nahi Vikram ji, aapki duty hai. Aapko pareshan karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Hum bus se chale jayenge."

"Ismein pareshani kaisi Sonam ji?" Vikram ne narmi se jawab diya. "Uncle ji saalon baad yahan aaye hain. Aur waise bhi, gaon ke purane rishtedaron ki khidmat karna mera farz hai."

Nana ji hans pade. "Sonam, jab yeh itne pyar se keh raha hai toh mana mat kar. Aur waise bhi, sarkari afsar ki gaadi mein ghoomne ka moka roz-roz kahan milta hai!"

Sonam ne muskurate hue sir jhukaye rakha. Use Vikram ki is aadar aur izzat bhari baat ko mana karna thoda mushkil laga.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kuch hi der mein teeno Vikram ke saath shehar ki taraf nikal pade.

Vikram khud car drive kar raha tha. Nana ji aage ki seat par baithe the aur Sonam peeche ki seat par khidki ke paas baithi hui thi.

Shehar ki sadkein shaant thin. Khidki se aati thandi hawa Sonam ke chehre se takra rahi thi. Woh chupchap bahar ke nazarein dekh rahi thi—unchi imaratein, bade ped, aur sadak ke dono taraf ki halchal.

Vikram mirror mein se kabhi-kabhi Sonam ki taraf dekh leta tha.

Usne Sonam ke chehre par ek aisi saadgi aur shanti dekhi jo usne shehar ke shor-sharaba bhare mahaul mein kam hi dekhi thi. Woh zyada bolti nahi thi, lekin uski aankhon mein har chhoti cheez ko ghor se dekhne ka ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha.

"Sonam ji, aap pehle kabhi iss shehar mein aayi hain?" Vikram ne achanak pucha.

Sonam ne chaunk kar aage dekha. "Nahi, yeh pehli baar hai. Main toh bas apne ghar aur rasoi tak hi simit rehti hoon."

"Ghar sambhalna sabse bada kaam hota hai Sonam ji," Vikram ne behad sanjhida awaaz mein kaha. "Hum log toh sirf duty karte hain, lekin ek ghar ko chalana aur sabko bandh kar rakhna sabse mushkil duty hai."

Vikram ke inn shabdon ne Sonam ke dil ko chhoo liya.

Ghar mein sab log uske kaam ko ek normal routine samajhte the. Koi kabhi yeh nahi kehta tha ki woh kitna bada kaam kar rahi hai. Lekin aaj ek anjaan aadmi ne uske rozmarra ke kaam ko itni izzat di thi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Vikram unhe shehar ke sabse purane aur famous lake-side park mein le gaya.

Jheel ke kinare thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Teeno ek bade se bargad ke ped ke neeche lage bench par baith gaye. Nana ji thoda thak gaye the, isliye woh bench par baithkar aaram karne lage, jabki Vikram aur Sonam jheel ke kinare thodi door khade ho gaye.

Paani ki chhoti-chhoti laherein kinare se takra rahi thin.

"Aapka chhota beta college mein hai na?" Vikram ne baat shuru ki.

Sonam ne hairani se dekha. "Aapko kaise pata?"

"Uncle ji bata rahe the," Vikram ne ek halki muskaan ke saath kaha. "Unka kehna tha ki aap use bohot yaad karti hain."

Sonam ki aankhon mein thodi si nami aa gayi, lekin usne turant khud ko sambhal liya.

"Haan... pehli baar ghar se door gaya hai. Ghar ka ek kamra ab bilkul khaali rehta hai. Subah uthte hi lagta hai ki abhi aawaz dega, lekin phir yaad aata hai ki woh toh doosre shehar mein hai."

Vikram ne uski baat dhyan se suni.

"Maa ka dil aisa hi hota hai. Meri maa bhi jab tak jeene mein thin, mere duty par jaane ke baad roz shaam ko darwaze par khadi rehti thin. Jab woh chali gayin, toh ghar ka akelapan samajh aane laga."

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Uske chehre par ek purana dard tha jo usne apni sakht personality ke peeche chipa rakha tha.

"Aapki maa..." Sonam ne aadhi baat chhodi.

"Panch saal pehle chali gayin," Vikram ne aasmaan ki taraf dekhte hue kaha. "Tab se bas yeh kaam hai aur main hoon."

Sonam ne mehsoos kiya ki dono ki duniya kitni alag hone ke bawajood kitni ek jaisi thi. Ek taraf woh thi jo parivaar ke beech hokar bhi kabhi-kabhi akeli hoti thi, aur doosri taraf Vikram tha jo akela hokar bhi apne farz mein uljha hua tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Shaam ke paanch baj chuke the.

Vikram unhe unke ghar chhodne ke liye gaadi mein lekar aaya. Jab gaadi Sonam ke ghar ke gate ke bahar ruki, toh Nana ji ne Vikram ka haath pakad liya.

"Vikram beta, aaj ka din bohot achha bita. Tumne humein bohot izzat aur waqt diya."

"Yeh toh mera sobhagya tha Uncle ji," Vikram ne muskura kar kaha.

Sonam gaadi se bahar nikli aur bag uthayi. Woh ek pal ke liye ruki aur Vikram ki taraf dekha.

"Shukriya... aaj ke din ke liye," Sonam ne behad shafaf awaaz mein kaha.

Vikram ne apni aadat ke mutabiq haath jode. "Apna dhyan rakhiyega Sonam ji."

Gaadi dheere-dheere gali ke kone se gayab ho gayi.

Sonam apne ghar ke andar aayi. Ghar mein wahi roz ka mahaul tha—bada beta TV dekh raha tha, pati tiffin ka dibba dho rahe the, aur saas apni mala jap rahi thin.

Lekin aaj Sonam ke andar kuch badal chuka tha. Uske rozmarra ke shant jeevan mein ek naye dost ki aahat ho chuki thi... ek aisa dost jise woh shayad kabhi bhool nahi payegi.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
       CHAPTER 5 — EK ANTEKHAN MEHMAAN AUR NAYA AAGAZ
================================================== 


Jheel ke kinare bitaye us shaam ko dhalne ke baad kayi din beet gaye.

Sonam ki zindagi phir se apne purane routine mein laut aayi thi. Subah ki chai, bartano ki khanak, bade bete ki shararatein, aur chhote bete ke kamre ko chupchap dekhne ka silsila. Lekin iss sabke beech, kabhi-kabhi chai daalte hue ya khidki se bahar dekhte hue, use us gehri awaaz aur aadar bhari nazron ka khayal aa hi jata tha.

Usne iss khayal ko hamesha ek aam si yaad samajh kar khud se door karne ki koshish ki.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ek budhwar ki shaam, shehar mein halki-halki boondabandi ho rahi thi.

Sonam rasoi mein garam pakode aur chai bana rahi thi. Pati office se wapas aakar verandah mein akhbar padh rahe the aur Nana ji drawing room mein baithe apni mala jap rahe the.

Tabhi bahar gate khulne ki awaaz aayi aur ek heavy vehicle ke rukne ki aahat mili.

Bada beta darwaze ki taraf bhaga. "Papa, koi badi gaadi aayi hai bahar."

Pati ne newspaper neeche rakha aur bahar dekha. "Kaun ho sakta hai itni shaam ko?"

Bahar se kadamo ki aahat aayi aur ek damdaar awaaz ne pure ghar ka dhyan apni taraf khinch liya—

"Pranam Uncle ji."

Nana ji ne jaise hi woh awaaz suni, unke chehre par ek alag hi chamak aa gayi. Unhone mala wahi rakhi aur khade ho gaye.

"Arre! Vikram beta!"

Sonam, jo rasoi mein tray sajaye khadi thi, uske haath ek pal ke liye thithak gaye. Uski dhadkan achanak tezz ho gayi. Usne jaldi se apna aanchal theek kiya aur rasoi ke darwaze se bahar dekha.

Darwaze par Vikram khada tha. Dark blue blazer, crisp shirt, aur baalon par paani ki halki boondein. Uske chehre par wahi purani gambhirta thi, lekin Nana ji ko dekhkar uske chehre par ek sachi muskaan aa gayi.

❖ ❖ ❖

"Vikram! Tum yahan? Bina kisi khabar ke?" Nana ji ne aage badhkar use gale se lagaya.

"Ji Uncle ji. Yahan paas ke district mein security department ki ek emergency meeting thi. Shaam ko free hua toh socha aap logon se milta chaluun," Vikram ne bohot hi tehzeeb se jawab diya.

Sonam ke pati ne aage badhkar haath milaya. Nana ji ne turant sabka taaruf karwaya.

"Vikram beta, yeh Sonam ke pati hain... aur yeh iska bada beta." Phir unhone pati se kaha, "Yeh Ramesh ka beta hai, Vikram. Shehar mein bada security officer hai."

"Bahut khushnaseebi hai aap se milkar," Sonam ke pati ne izzat se kaha aur use andar baithne ki jagah di.

Tabhi Sonam tray mein chai ke cups aur garam pakode lekar drawing room mein aayi.

"Namaste," Sonam ne behad shafaf aur dheeri awaaz mein kaha.

Vikram ne apni jagah se khade hokar haath jode. "Namaste Sonam ji. Maaf kijiyega bina bataye aane ke liye."

"Nahi nahi, aisi koi baat nahi hai. Aap baithiye na," Sonam ne nazar jhukate hue tray meez par rakh di.

Vikram ne Sonam ko dekha. Suti saree mein woh roz ki tarah bilkul saadha aur shant dikh rahi thi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ghar ke drawing room mein baatein shuru ho gayin. Sonam ke pati aur Vikram ke beech shehar ki security aur sarkari kaam-kaaj ko lekar charcha hone lagi. Vikram har baat ka jawab bohot hi sanjhida aur tarka-sangat (logical) tarike se de raha tha, jisse ghar ke sabhi log kaafi impressed the.

Nana ji ne chai ka cup uthaya. "Vikram, Sonam ne abhi-abhi garam pakode banaye hain. Le lo beta."

Vikram ne ek cup chai aur pakoda uthaya. Usne pehli chuski li aur Sonam ki taraf dekhkar bola—

"Chai ka swad bilkul nahi badla Sonam ji. Wahi ghar jaisi garmahat."

Sonam ne halki si muskaan ke saath sir jhukaya. "Aapko pasand aayi, yeh achhi baat hai."

Bada beta bhi Vikram ke paas aakar baith gaya. Use Vikram ke walking stick, roabdaar personality aur walkie-talkie mein bohot interest aa raha tha.

"Uncle, aapki duty mein toh bohot khatra hota hoga na?" bete ne pucha.

Vikram ne halki si muskaan ke saath bete ke sar par haath rakha. "Khatra toh har farz mein hota hai beta. Lekin jab aap apne kaam se pyar karte hain, toh dar nahi lagta."

Sonam ne rasoi ke kone mein khade hokar inn shabdon ko suna. Vikram ke har ek lafz mein ek aisi sachai thi jo seedhe dil tak pahunchti thi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ghabrahat aur sharm ke beech shaam kab beet gayi, pata hi nahi chala.

Vikram ne apni ghadi dekhi. "Ab mujhe nikalna hoga Uncle ji. Raat ko gaadi se wapas headquarters pahunchna hai."

"Itni jaldi? Khana khakar jate beta," Nana ji ne aagrah kiya.

"Nahi Uncle ji, iss baar maaf kijiyega. Agli baar aaunga toh zaroor khana khakar jaunga," Vikram ne bohot hi adab se kaha.

Usne sabhi se vida li. Jab woh darwaze ke paas pahuche, toh Sonam bhi bahar tak aayi.

Vikram ne ek pal ke liye ruk kar Sonam ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein ek anjaan si garmahat thi.

"Sonam ji... aapke haath ki chai aur pakodon ke liye shukriya. Meri akele ki zindagi mein aisi shaamein kam hi aati hain."

Sonam ne use dekha. Uske muh se bas itna hi nikla—

"Aap apna dhyan rakhiyega. Jab bhi iss taraf aayein... ghar zaroor aaiyega."

Vikram ne haath jode, halka sa sir jhukaya aur apni gaadi ki taraf badh gaya.

Gaadi ki headlights ki roshni mein baarish ki boondein chamak rahi thin. Gaadi dheere-dheere gali se bahar nikal gayi, lekin Sonam ke ghar aur uske dil mein ek aisi shanti chhod gayi jo pehle kabhi nahi thi.

[Lusty_bOOz]

==================================================
        CHAPTER 6  —  EK SHAAM DIL KE NAZDEEK
==================================================


Kareeb do mahine beet chuke the.

Mausam ne dheere-dheere apna mizaaj badla tha. Baarish ki thandak ab halki saardiyon ki aahat mein badal chuki thi. Ghar mein har taraf ek alag hi halchal aur garmahat thi, kyunki Diwali ka tyohar bilkul kareeb tha. Saalon baad aisa mauka aaya tha jab Sonam ka chhota beta bhi college se chuttiyan lekar ghar wapas aaya hua tha.

Ghar ki ranga-rong tayyariyan zorse chal rahi thin. Safai, mithaiyon ki khushboo, parde badalna, aur diyon ke liye tel ka intezaam—Sonam subah paanch baje se shaam ke aath baje tak bina thake kaam mein lagi rehti thi.

Lekin iss baar ki Diwali mein ek alag baat thi.

Aath din pehle Nana ji ne drawing room mein baithkar khabar di thi—
"Sonam, main Vikram ko bol aaya hoon. Iss baar Diwali ke din woh humare sath hi khana khaye-ga."

Sonam ke pati ne bhi turant haami bhari thi, "Bohot achha kiya papa. Woh bechara wahan akela rehta hai, tyohar ke din kisi apne ke saath rahega toh use bhi achha lagega."

Bada beta aur chhota beta dono hi Vikram se milne ke liye utsuk the. Chhote bete ne Vikram ke baare mein apne bhai aur Nana ji se bohot kuch sun rakha tha ki kaise woh ek sakht sarkari afsar hai, par dil se behad narm aur izzat karne wala aadmi hai.

Sonam ne jab yeh suna tha, toh uske dil mein ek ajeeb si tezz halchal hui thi. Woh din-raat kaam mein khud ko uljhayi rakhti, lekin mann hi mann ek hi baat chal rahi thi—
*Kya rasoi mein mithai theek bani hai? Kya woh rasoi ka khana pasand karega? Unke liye kaun sa pakwaan alag se banana sahi rahega?*

❖ ❖ ❖

Diwali ki subah bohot hi khoobsurat thi.

Gali mein har ghar ke bahar aangan ko dhoya gaya tha. Sonam ne subah hi uthkar ghar ke main gate par aam ke patton ka toran lagaya aur safed-laal rangoli banayi. Usne aaj ek sundar maroon rang ki silk saree pehni thi, jis par halki zari ka kaam tha. Haathon mein kaanch ki lal churiya aur maathe par chhoti si bindi—woh bilkul ek shant, samarpit aur aatmiya roop mein saj-dhaj kar tayyar thi.

Ghar mein shor-shaba tha. Chhota beta aur bada beta aangan mein aakash-kandil (lanterns) tang rahe the.

"Mummy! Yeh rassi thodi unchi karo na!" chhote bete ne aawaz di.

Sonam rasoi se bahar aayi, "Main abhi aati hoon, pehle yeh gujiya ka dabba wahan meez par rakhne do."

Sonam jaise hi dabba rakhkar bahar aangan ki taraf badhi, gate ke pass ek kaali gaadi aakar ruki. Gaadi ka door khula aur usmein se Vikram bahar nikla.

Aaj woh sarkari clothes ya blazer mein nahi tha. Usne ek gehrey neele (navy blue) rang ka kurtha aur pyjama pehen rakha tha, jismein uska lambe kad aur chode kandhe aur bhi roabdaar lag rahe the. Uske haath mein mithaiyon ka ek bada dabba aur phoolon ka bouquet tha.

Sonam ke kadam wahi ruk gaye. Uske haath ki churiya halki si khanak gayi.

Vikram ne gate se andar kadam rakha aur sabse pehle uski nazar aangan ke kone mein khadi Sonam par padi. Ek pal ke liye Vikram ke kadam bhi dheeme ho gaye. Maroon saree aur aanchal ke sath Sonam ki saadgi mein ek aisi chamak thi jo kisi bhi tyohar ke diye se zyada ujaal de rahi thi. Dono ne ek-doosre ko dekha, aur bina ek lafz bole hi hawa mein ek anjaan sa aadar aur apnapan tair gaya.

"Pranam Uncle ji!" Vikram ne aage badhkar Nana ji ke paon chhuye.

"Jeete raho beta, jeete raho! Aao aao, andar aao," Nana ji ne use gale laga liya.

Sonam ke pati ne aage badhkar Vikram ka swagat kiya, "Vikram ji, aaiye! Aapka hi intezaar tha."

Vikram ne ghar ke dono ladkon ki taraf dekha aur muskura kar haath milaya. Chhota beta toh pehli baar Vikram ko dekhkar hi behad impressed ho gaya.

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf rukh kiya aur behad narm, gehri awaaz mein kaha—

"Diwali ki bohot bohot shubhkamnayein, Sonam ji."

Sonam ne apni nazar thodi jhukayi, haath jode aur dheere se bola—

"Aapko bhi Diwali ki bohot shubhkamnayein, Vikram ji. Aaiye, andar baithiye."

❖ ❖ ❖

Drawing room mein tyohar ka mahaul apne charam par tha. Mithaiyan baanti ja rahi thin aur chai ke cups chal rahe the.

Vikram ghar ke sabhi logon ke saath ghul-mil gaya tha. Woh Nana ji se gaon ki baatein kar raha tha, Sonam ke pati se city ki nayi schemes par charcha kar raha tha, aur dono ladkon ko unke career aur discipline ke baare mein aise samjha raha tha jaise koi bada bhai ya abhibhavak (guardian) samjhati hai.

Sonam rasoi mein khana laga rahi thi, lekin uska ek kaan hamesha drawing room se aati Vikram ki awaaz par laga hua tha. Jab bhi Vikram ki halki si hansi ki awaaz aati, Sonam ke chehre par ek anjaan si muskaan khil jaati.

"Mummy, Vikram uncle toh bohot cool hain!" chhote bete ne rasoi mein aakar puri ka bartan uthate hue kaha. "Woh bata rahe the ki unki training mein unhe firing aur horse riding kaise sikhayi gayi thi!"

Sonam ne bete ke sar par halki si chapat lagayi, "Haan, toh tum bhi unse kuch discipline sikho. Din bhar phone mein mat lage raha karo."

"Arre mummy, aap toh har baat par mujhe hi daantne lagti ho!" beta hans kar bahar bhaag gaya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Dopehar ke khane ka waqt hua. Poore parivaar ne ek saath baithkar khana khaya. Sonam ne Vikram ke liye khas taur par unki pasand ki puri, paneer ki sabzi aur kheer parosi thi.

"Sonam ji, aapne itna sab kuch banane ke liye bohot mehnat ki hai," Vikram ne khana khate hue kaha. "Aisa swad mujhe saalon baad naseeb hua hai. Meri maa ke jaane ke baad ghar ke baney khane ka yeh asli maza pehli baar mila hai."

Vikram ke inn shabdon se poora kamra ek pal ke liye bhaavuk ho gaya. Sonam ke pati ne Vikram ke shoulder par haath rakha, "Vikram ji, ab se yeh aapka hi ghar hai. Jab bhi mann kare, aap bina jhijhak yahan aa sakte hain."

Sonam ne chupchap rasoi ke paas khade hokar Vikram ki aankhon mein dekha. Unn aankhon mein ek behad gehra shukriya aur ek pyas thi—ek aise ghar ki pyas jo use saalon se nahi mila tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Shaam dhalne lagi aur pure ghar ko diyo se sajane ka waqt aaya.

Ghar ke baaki log bahar gali mein patake phodne aur padosiyon se milne mein vyast the. Sonam aangan mein ek bade se thal mein diye baati karke tel daal rahi thi.

Tabhi Vikram drawing room se bahar aangan mein aaya.

"Sonam ji, kya main aapki kuch madad kar sakta hoon?"

Sonam ne chaunk kar upar dekha. Vikram uske paas hi cement ke chabootre par baith gaya tha.

"Nahi nahi Vikram ji, aap mehmaan hain. Aap kyun madad karenge?" Sonam ne jhijhakte hue kaha.

"Mehmaan nahi, aap logon ne toh mujhe apne parivaar ka hissa bana liya hai," Vikram ne ek diya apne haath mein uthate hue aur use maachis se jalate hue kaha. "Aur waise bhi, diye jalana toh sabse pavitra kaam hai."

Sonam ke haath thode kaanp gaye jab Vikram ne jalta hua diya uske haath ke paas rakha taaki woh use aangan ke kone mein saja sake.

Dono aangan mein ek-doosre ke paas baithe diye jalate rahe. Hawa mein meethi si khushboo aur diyon ki peeli roshni tharak rahi thi.

"Aap roz itna kaam karti hain, thakti nahi?" Vikram ne bohot hi shant awaaz mein pucha.

Sonam ne ek diya rakhte hue kaha, "Parivaar ke liye kaam karne mein thakan kahan hoti hai Vikram ji? Jab sab khush rehte hain, toh lagta hai mera din safal ho gaya."

Vikram ne Sonam ko ghor se dekha. "Aapka dil bohot bada hai Sonam ji. Lekin kabhi-kabhi khud ke liye bhi jeena chahiye. Aapki apni khushi bhi utni hi zaroori hai jitni baaki sabki."

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Zindagi mein pehli baar kisi ne usse yeh baat kahi thi. Uski apni pehchaan, uski apni khushi ke baare mein kisi ne itni gehrayi se socha tha. Sonam ki aankhon mein halki si nami aa gayi, jo diye ki roshni mein chamak uthi.

"Main... main khud ke liye kya hi sochti," Sonam ne aanchal sambhalte hue dheere se kaha.

"Toh ab se sochna shuru kijiye," Vikram ne behad aadar aur ek adhikathit (unspoken) vaade ke saath kaha. "Main hoon na... aapko yaad dilane ke liye."

Dono ek-doosre ki aankhon mein dekhne lage. Patahi nahi chala ki kab diye ki woh chhoti si baati un dono ke beech ke bhed-bhav aur jhijhak ko jala kar raakh kar chuki thi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Raat ke dus baj chuke the.

Vikram ke jaane ka waqt ho gaya tha. Usne Nana ji, Sonam ke pati aur dono bachon se vida li. Sabhi ne use dubara aane ke liye bohot aagrah kiya.

Jab Vikram apni gaadi ke paas pahuncha, toh Sonam bhi darwaze ke paas khadi thi.

Vikram ne gaadi ka door khola, phir ruka aur Sonam ki taraf mudkar dekha.

"Aaj ki Diwali meri zindagi ki sabse yaadgar Diwali thi Sonam ji. Iss ghar se jo roshni main saath le ja raha hoon, woh meri akeli raaton ko hamesha ujaal degi."

Sonam ne haath jode. "Aap wapas zaroor aaiyega."

Vikram ne halka sa sir jhukaya, "Zaroor."

Gaadi dheere-dheere aage badh gayi. Sonam gate par khadi hokar tab tak dekhti rahi jab tak gaadi ki pichhli lights gali ke kone mein gayab nahi ho gayin.

Aasman mein patakon ki roshni ho rahi thi, lekin Sonam ke andar ek alag hi diye ki roshni jal chuki thi—ek aisa diya jo shayad ab kabhi bujhne wala nahi tha.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
       CHAPTER 7 — EK ANJAAN CHHAAON KA BULAWA
================================================== 


Diwali ki us roshan shaam ko gujre do hafte se zyada ka waqt ho chuka tha.

Lekin us shaam aangan mein diyon ki roshni ke beech Vikram ke kahe hue lafz—"Aapki apni khushi bhi utni hi zaroori hai... main hoon na aapko yaad dilane ke liye"—Sonam ke dil aur dimag mein ek meethi aahat ki tarah gunjte rehte the.

Sonam rozmarra ke kamon mein uljhi rehti, lekin ab uski aankhon mein ek aisi shanti aur chehre par ek aisi halki muskaan rehti thi jo pehle kabhi nahi thi. Uske liye Vikram ab bas Papa ka ek dost ka beta ya ek sarkari afsar nahi tha, balki woh ek aisa shakhs ban chuka tha jo bina kahe uski khamoshi ko samajhta tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ghar mein sardi ki subah ki halchal shuru ho chuki thi.

Nana ji ko gaon se unke ek purane sathi ka phone aaya tha, jiske silsile mein unhe do din ke liye gaon lautna pada. Bada beta apne college ke tour par gaya hua tha, chhota beta dubara apne hostel laut chuka tha, aur Sonam ke pati ko office ke kisi zaroori project ke silsile mein subah hi doosre shehar ke liye nikalna pada tha.

Ghar mein sirf Sonam aur uski saas thi.

Dopehar ke kareeb ek baje, saas apni medicines lekar apne kamre mein so rahi thin. Poore ghar mein ek behad ajeeb aur gehri khamoshi phaili hui thi.

Sonam rasoi ka kaam samapt karke apne kamre mein baithi saree ke pallu ko theek kar rahi thi, tabhi uske phone par ek unknown number se message aaya:

"Sonam ji, main Vikram. Aaj main aapke shehar ke sarkari circuit house mein ek sarkari meeting ke silsile mein aaya hoon. Shaam char baje mujhe headquarters lautna hai. Agar aapko koi aaitraaz na ho... toh kya hum aangan ya ghar se door kisi shant jagah par 15 minute ke liye mil sakte hain? Aap se kuch baatein karni thin."

Sonam ne message padha aur uske haath ek pal ke liye kaanp gaye. Uski dhadkan achanak itni tezz ho gayi ki use khud apne seene mein uski aawaz sunai dene lagi.

Usne aaj tak kabhi ghar ke kisi sadasya ke bina, kisi paraye purush se alag se milne ka socha tak nahi tha. Uski maryada, uski parampara aur uski sharm ne use ek pal ke liye rokne ki koshish ki.

Lekin doosre hi pal, use Vikram ki woh izzat bhari aankhein aur uski narmi yaad aayi. Sonam ko pata tha ki Vikram koi aisa shakhs nahi tha jo kisi galat irade se use bulaye.

Sonam ne trembling fingers se type kiya:

"Ghar ke paas jo purana Shiv mandir aur jheel ka kinar hai... wahan char pehle ek shant banyan tree hai. Main wahan aati hoon."

Message bhejte hi Sonam ne phone seene se laga liya. Usko samajh nahi aa raha tha ki yeh darr tha ya ek aisi khushi jiska koi naam nahi tha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kareeb teen baje, Sonam ne saas ko chai di aur unhe bata diya ki woh paas ke mandir mein darshan ke liye ja rahi hai.

Usne halki jamuni (purple) rang ki suti saree pehni. Maathe par chhoti si bindi lagayi aur baalon mein halka sa tel laga kar bun banaya. Woh bilkul saadha thin, lekin uske chehre par ek aisi rangini thi jo uske dil ke andar ke toofan ko bayan kar rahi thi.

Mandir ke peeche jheel ka rasta behad shant tha. Sardi ki dhoop paani par chamak rahi thi aur suke patte paon ke neeche sar-sarah rahe the.

Bargad ke ped ke neeche ek purani pathar ki bench bani hui thi.

Jab Sonam wahan pahunchi, toh Vikram pehle se wahan khada tha. Usne casual grey sweater aur trousers pehen rakhe the. Woh jheel ki taraf mooh karke khada tha, lekin paon ki aahat sunte hi turant muda.

Dono ki nazrein ek-doosre par tiki.

Hawa mein sardi ki thandak thi, lekin un dono ke beech ek behad garmahat bhara sannaata chha gaya.


Vikram ne aage badhkar behad adab se haath jode. "Namaste, Sonam ji."

Sonam ne apna aanchal sambhalte hue haath jode aur nazar jhukakar bola, "Namaste, Vikram ji."

Vikram ne bench ki taraf ishara kiya. "Aap baithiye na."

Sonam bench ke ek kone par baith gayi. Vikram ne uske ekdum paas na baith kar, thodi doori banaye rakhi taaki Sonam ko koi asuvidha ya jhijhak na ho. Vikram ki is izzat aur aadar ne Sonam ke dil ke darr ko pal bhar mein khatam kar diya.

Kuch der tak sirf jheel ke paani ki laherein kinare se takrane ki aawaz aati rahi.

"Aapne mujhe yahan kyun bulaya Vikram ji?" Sonam ne shuruat ki, uski awaaz mein halki si jhijhak abhi bhi thi.

Vikram ne jheel ki taraf dekhte hue ek gehri saans li.

"Sonam ji... main rozana sau tarah ke kanoon, afsaron aur apradhon ke beech rehta hoon. Meri zindagi mein farz aur kaanoon ke ilawa kabhi koi doosra jazba nahi raha. Lekin..."

Vikram ruka aur usne apna rukh Sonam ki taraf kiya. Uski aankhon mein aisi sachai thi jo seedhe dil par asar karti thi.

"...lekin jab se main aap se mila hoon, meri zindagi ka akelapan mujhe kaatne laga hai. Main roz shaam ko duty se wapas aakar apne khali bangley mein baithta hoon, toh mujhe aapki woh mand muskaan, aapke haath ki chai ki garmahat, aur aapki saadha baat yaad aati hai."

Sonam ke haath uski saree ke pallu ko jor se pakad chuke the. Uski saans thodi tezz ho gayi thi.

"Vikram ji..."

"Meri baat poori hone dijiye Sonam ji," Vikram ne behad narm awaaz mein aagrah kiya. "Main jaanta hoon aap ek maryadit parivaar ki bahu hain, ek maa hain, aur aapki apni ek izzat-dar duniya hai. Main aapki zindagi mein koi uthal-puthal nahi machana chahta. Na hi main aap se koi aisa vaada chahta hoon jo aapko dharamsankat mein daale."

Sonam ne apna sar uthaya aur Vikram ki aankhon mein dekha.

Vikram ne aage kaha, "Main bas aapko yeh batana chahta tha ki iss poori duniya mein ek aadmi aisa bhi hai... jo aapko sirf ek ghar ki zimmedar aurat ke roop mein nahi dekhata. Woh aapko 'Sonam' ke roop mein dekhta hai. Aapki pasand, aapke dard, aur aapki khushi ki izzat karta hai."

Sonam ke andar saalon se daba hua baandh achanak toot gaya.

Woh zindagi bhar sirf sabki zimmedariyan uthati aayi thi. Pati ki zarooratein, bachon ki padhai, saas-sasur ki sewa... sabhi ne usse pyaar kiya, lekin kisi ne use ek swatantra insaan ke roop mein nahi dekha tha. Kisi ne uske andar ke akelapan ko samajhne ki koshish nahi ki thi.

Sonam ki aankhon se ek aansu nikal kar uske gaal par beh gaya.

Vikram ne jab woh aansu dekha, toh uske chehre par pareshani aayi. Usne turant apni jeb se ek safed rumal nikal kar Sonam ki taraf badhaya.

"Maaf kijiyega Sonam ji... agar mere shabdon ne aapko takleef pahunchayi ho toh main abhi chala jata hoon—"

"Nahi!" Sonam ke muh se achanak yeh lafz nikal gaya.

Usne Vikram ki taraf dekha aur apna aansu ponchhte hue bola, "Nahi Vikram ji... aapne mujhe koi takleef nahi di."

Sonam ne ek gehri saans li aur jheel ki taraf dekhte hue apne dil ka haal bayan kiya—

"Zindagi mein sab kuch hote hue bhi... kabhi-kabhi lagta tha ki main kahin kho gayi hoon. Ghar ke kamon mein, bartano ki aawaz mein, tiffin ke dibbon mein... meri apni aawaz kahin dab gayi thi. Aapne jab pehli baar mere haath ki chai ki taarif ki thi, aur jab aapne Diwali par mere sath diye jalaye the... mujhe pehli baar laga ki koi mujhe bhi sun raha hai."

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf muda, uski aankhon mein aadar aur ek gehra apnapan chamak raha tha.

"Main ek parivaar ki buniyaad hoon Vikram ji... main us buniyaad ko kabhi tod nahi sakti. Lekin mere dil ke ek kone mein aapke liye jo izzat aur sthan ban chuka hai... woh ab kabhi khatam nahi hoga. Aap mere akelapan ka woh sathi hain jise main kabhi khona nahi chahti."

Vikram ke chehre par ek behad sukoon bhari muskaan khil gayi. Usne mehsoos kiya ki use jawab mein koi jhute vaade ya samajik rishte nahi chahiye the—use bas Sonam ke dil mein yeh chhota sa sthan chahiye tha.

Vikram ne apna haath bench par rakha, aur Sonam ke haath ke behad paas laya... bina use sparsh kiye (touch kiye), sirf us garmahat ko mehsoos karte hue.

"Mere liye itna hi kaafi hai Sonam ji. Aap jahan bhi rahein, bas khush rahein. Jab bhi aapko lage ki duniya ka shor zyada ho gaya hai... yaad rakhna ki door ek afsar aapki shanti ke liye prarthna kar raha hai."

Sonam ne halki si muskaan ke saath sir jhukaya.

Dopehar ki dhoop ab dheere-dheere peeli pad rahi thi. Char bajne wale the.

Dono ek saath khade hue.

"Ab aapko nikalna chahiye," Vikram ne kaha.

"Aap bhi apna dhyan rakhna Vikram ji," Sonam ne behad sachi aawaz mein kaha.

Vikram ne haath jode, Sonam ne bhi haath jode. Dono ne ek-doosre ko aakhri baar ek gehri nazar se dekha.

Sonam mandir ki taraf wapas badh gayi, aur Vikram circuit house ki car ki taraf. Dono alag rasto par chal pade the... lekin unke dil ab kabhi alag nahi hone wale the.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
        CHAPTER 8 — GEHRA HOTA DHAGA AUR NAYA SAFAR
================================================== 


Jheel ke kinare hue us milan ke baad zindagiyon mein ek ajeeb sa thahrav aur sukoon aa gaya tha.

Sonam ghar laut aayi thi, lekin ab uski aakho mein ek naye kism ka aatmanirbhar aur shant ujaal tha. Uske rozmarra ke kamon mein wahi saadhna thi, lekin ab woh kaam kisi bojh ki tarah nahi, balki ek bheetari khushi ke sath hote the. Zindagi ke us shant mod par use pata tha ki door kahin ek shakhs hai jo uski hasti aur uske dil ki izzat karta tha.

Dusri taraf, Vikram headquarters laut chuka tha. Lekin uski akeli zindagi mein ab akelapan ka darr nahi tha. Uski duty, uski files aur sarkari mashghuliyaton ke beech Sonam ki woh shant muskaan aur uske kahe hue lafz ek thandi chhaon ki tarah rehte the.

❖ ❖ ❖

Teen mahine beet gaye.

Mausam badal raha tha aur ab sardi ki jagah halki garmi ki aahat hone lagi thi. Nana ji gaon se wapas aa chuke the aur ghar mein sab kuch hamesha ki tarah regular routine par chal raha tha.

Iss beech, Vikram aur Sonam ke beech phone par baat nahi hoti thi—dono ne bina kahe ek-doosre ki maryada aur ghar ke mahaul ka sammaan kiya tha. Lekin Nana ji ke zariye dono ko ek-doosre ki khabar milti rehti thi. Nana ji hafte mein ek-do baar Vikram ko zaroor phone karte aur gaon-gharelu baatein karte, jismein Sonam chupchap rasoi se Nana ji ki baatein sunkar Vikram ka haal-chaal jaan leti thi.

Ek din subah, Nana ji ke phone par Vikram ka call aaya.

"Pranam Uncle ji! Kaise hain aap?"

"Arre Vikram beta! Main bilkul theek hoon. Tum batao, tumhari duty kaisey chal rahi hai?" Nana ji ne khush hokar pucha.

"Sab badhiya Uncle ji. Ek achhi khabar thi... mera transfer ab aapke hi shehar ke mukhya Security Headquarters mein senior superintendent ke roop mein ho gaya hai. Agle hafte se main yahin permanently shift ho raha hoon."

Nana ji yeh sunkar uchhal pade. "Yeh toh bohot hi achhi khabar hai beta! Ab toh tum hamare paas hi rahoge!"

Rasoi mein chai chhan rahi Sonam ke haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaye. Vikram ab usi ke shehar mein permanently rehne wala tha. Uski dhadkan ne ek baar phir wohi purani lay pakad li.

Vikram ke nayi posting par aane ke baad, woh pehle jaisa aam afsar nahi raha tha—ab us par pure district ki security ka zimma tha. Lekin itni vyastata ke bawajood, usne Nana ji se milne ka waqt nikal hi liya.

Ravivar ki shaam, Vikram ek baar phir Sonam ke ghar aaya.

Aaj woh formal sarkari dress mein nahi, balki ek aam light-green kurta pehen kar aaya tha. Jab woh ghar ke andar aaya, toh pure parivaar ne uska behad garmahat se swagat kiya.

Sonam ke pati ne aage badhkar kaha, "Vikram ji, ab toh aap humare hi shehar mein hain. Ab aapko akele rehne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Shaam ka khana ya weekend par aap jab chahein yahan aa sakte hain."

Vikram ne behad adab se kaha, "Aapka yeh apnapan hi mere liye sab kuch hai."

Sonam rasoi se tray lekar bahar aayi. Dono ki nazrein milin. Koi ghabrahat nahi thi, koi jhijhak nahi thi—bas ek behad gehra aadar aur samajh thi.

"Namaste Vikram ji," Sonam ne kaha.

"Namaste Sonam ji," Vikram ne haath jodh kar kaha.

❖ ❖ ❖

Khane ke baad, sabhi log verandah mein baith kar chai peene lage.

Nana ji ne achanak ek proposal rakha. "Vikram beta, tum yahan nayi jagah aaye ho. Tumhara sarkari bangla toh mil gaya hoga, lekin wahan ghar ka samaan sajane aur rasoi sambhalne ke liye kisi samajhdaar insaan ki zaroorat padegi. Sonam kal free hai, agar tum kaho toh yeh tumhare bangley par chalkar thoda samaan arrange karne mein madad kar de?"

Sonam ne chaunk kar Nana ji ki taraf dekha. Uske muh se bas itna hi nikla, "Papa... main?"

Vikram ne Sonam ki jhijhak ko turant mehsoos kar liya. Usne behad sanjhida awaaz mein kaha—

"Nahi Uncle ji, Sonam ji ko pareshan karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Main kisi caretaker se karwa loonga."

Lekin Sonam ke pati ne bhi Nana ji ki baat ka samarthan kiya, "Nahi Vikram ji, ismein pareshani ki kya baat hai? Sonam toh ghar ke kamon mein mahir hai. Aap use le jaiye, do-teen ghante mein woh rasoi aur baki samaan ka setup dekh legi."

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Vikram ke chehre par ek aisi aashcharya aur izzat bhari nazar thi jo keh rahi thi ki decision poori tarah Sonam ka hai.

Sonam ne ek halki si saans li aur muskura kar bola—

"Agar aapko koi takleef na ho Vikram ji... toh main kal dopehar mein chalti hoon."

Vikram ne haath jodh kar dheere se kaha, "Yeh mera sobhagya hoga, Sonam ji."

Dono ke beech ka rishta ab ek naye safar par badh raha tha—ek aisa safar jahan samajik maryadaon ke daire mein rehkar bhi, do dil ek-doosre ka sahara ban rahe the.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
        CHAPTER 9 — SOONE AANGAN MEIN APNAPAN
================================================== 


Agli dopehar kareeb do baje, Vikram ki sarkari gaadi Sonam ke ghar ke bahar aakar ruki.

Sonam ne ek sadharan, peele rang ki cotton saree pehen rakhi thi, jiske pallu par halki si embroidery thi. Usne apna chhota sa hand bag liya, saas aur Nana ji ko bata kar gaadi ki taraf badhi. Driver ne aage badhkar darwaza khola, aur Sonam peeche seat par baith gayi.

Vikram khud gaadi mein nahi tha—usne driver ko pehle hi bhej diya taaki Sonam ko koi jhijhak na ho.

Dus minute ke safar ke baad gaadi VIP area ke ek bade se sarkari bangley ke aangan mein dakhil hui. Bangla kafi bada tha, jiske aage hara-bhara bagicha tha, lekin andar se bilkul soona aur benoor lag raha tha. Samaan ke dabba yahan-wahan pade the, aur rasoi mein bartan abhi tak unbox bhi nahi hue the.

Vikram verandah mein khada intezaar kar raha tha. Usne ek aam white linen shirt aur trousers pehen rakha tha.

Gaadi se utarte hi Sonam ne aangan aur bangley ko dekha.

"Aaiye Sonam ji," Vikram ne aage badhkar behad aadar se kaha. "Pehle toh maaf kijiyega ki aapko iss bikhre hue ghar mein aana pada."

Sonam ne ek halki muskaan ke saath kaha, "Ismein maafi ki kya baat hai Vikram ji? Naye ghar mein shift hone par toh aisa hi hota hai. Chaliye, pehle rasoi se shuruat karte hain."

Sonam ne apna handbag ek taraf rakha, saree ke pallu ko kamar par lapata aur rasoi ki taraf badh gayi.

Bangley ki rasoi kafi badi thi, lekin har taraf dhool aur dabba ka dher tha. Vikram bhi uske peeche-peeche rasoi mein aaya aur dabba kholne mein madad karne laga.

"Aap yeh bhare hue dabba mat uthaiye Vikram ji, yeh bhaari hain," Sonam ne kaha.

"Aur aap akele yeh sab karengi? Yeh toh cheating hogi," Vikram ne muskura kar kaha.

Dono ne milkar rasoi ke bartan, masale ke dibbe aur khane-peene ka samaan racks par sajana shuru kiya. Vikram jo bade-bade afsaron aur apradhon ko control karta tha, aaj Sonam ke diye gaye chhote-chhote nirdeshon (instructions) ko behad obediently maan raha tha.

"Yeh namak ka dabba yahan rakhiye... aur woh chai patti ka dabba aage," Sonam batati gayi, aur Vikram wahi karta gaya.

Dono ke beech ek behad sahaj aur meethi jugalbandi chal rahi thi.

Kareeb do ghante ki mehnat ke baad rasoi bilkul chamak uthi thi. Har cheez apni sahi jagah par thi.

Sonam ne haath dhoye aur rasoi se bahar aayi. Usne dekha ki Vikram hall mein rakhi ek purani photo frame ko safai se poch kar meez par rakh raha tha. Woh photo Vikram ki late maa ki thi.

Sonam uske paas aakar khadi ho gayi.

"Aapki maa bohot khoobsurat thin," Sonam ne behad narm aawaz mein kaha.

Vikram ne photo frame ko dekha aur uske chehre par ek gehra bhav aaya. "Haan... unhe bhi ghar sajane ka bohot shauk tha. Unke jaane ke baad yeh sab soona ho gaya tha. Aaj saalon baad iss bangley mein kisi ke hone ka ehsaas hua hai."

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf dekha. Sonam ke chehre par thakan ki vajah se pasine ki chhoti boondein thin.

"Aap thak gayin hain Sonam ji. Baithiye, main aapke liye paani laata hoon," Vikram ne aage badhkar hall ki sofa par se ek dabba hataya aur Sonam ko baithne ki jagah di.

Vikram rasoi mein gaya aur ek glass mein thanda paani aur kuch biscuits lekar aaya. Usne glass Sonam ko pakdaya.

Sonam ne paani peeya aur aas-paas dekha. "Ghar ab thoda saaf lag raha hai. Bas drawing room ke parde aur aangan mein kuch phoolon ke gamley laga denge toh yeh aur bhi jeevant lagne lagega."

Vikram ne Sonam ke paas hi sofa par thodi doori par baithte hue kaha, "Main yeh sab kar loonga Sonam ji. Lekin aapne aaj jo iss ghar ko apna waqt diya hai... uske liye mere paas shukriya ada karne ke liye lafz nahi hain."

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Dono ki nazrein ek-doosre par tiki thin.

"Vikram ji, shukriya kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai," Sonam ne behad shafaf aur gehri aawaz mein kaha. "Zindagi mein kabhi-kabhi doosron ke liye kuch karke jo sukoon milta hai, woh khud ke liye karke bhi nahi milta. Aap mere parivaar ke liye itna sab karte hain, kya main aapke iss soone ghar ko thoda sa saja bhi nahi sakti?"

Vikram ka dil inn shabdon se bhar aaya. Usne apna haath sofa ke armrest par rakha, aur Sonam ke haath ke behad paas laya—dono ke haath ek-doosre ko chhuye bina bhi ek behad gehra sparsh mehsoos kar rahe the.

"Sonam ji..." Vikram ne narm aawaz mein kaha, "Aapki yeh saadgi hi meri sabse badi taakat hai. Jab bhi mujhe apni duty mein thakan ya pareshani hoti hai, main bas aapki issi shanti ko yaad kar leta hoon."

Sonam ne halki si muskaan ke saath nazar jhuka li. Uske gaal par halki si surkhi aa gayi thi.

Shaam ke char baj chuke the. Aangan mein dhoop ab dhalne lagi thi.

"Ab mujhe nikalna chahiye Vikram ji, shaam ki chai ka waqt ho raha hai ghar par," Sonam ne khade hote hue kaha.

Vikram bhi khada ho gaya. "Main aapko gaadi se chhod dhar aata hoon."

"Nahi, driver chhod dega, aap aaram kijiye," Sonam ne rokna chaha.

"Nahi Sonam ji, yeh meri zidd hai," Vikram ne behad adab se kaha.

Dono gaadi mein baith kar Sonam ke ghar ki taraf nikal pade. Safar ke dauran zyada baatein nahi hui, lekin gaadi ke andar ka sannaata kisi bhi shabd se zyada gehra aur khubsoorat tha.

Jab gaadi Sonam ke ghar ke bahar ruki, toh Sonam ne utarte waqt mudkar kaha—

"Naye ghar ki bohot bohot badhai, Vikram ji."

Vikram ne haath jode aur halka sa sir jhukakar bola, "Yeh ghar ab sach mein ghar bana hai, Sonam ji. Shukriya."

Sonam apne ghar ke andar chali gayi. Uske dil mein ek naya sukoon tha—ek aisa sukoon jo usne doosre ke soone jeevan mein thodi si roshni bhar kar paaya tha.

[Lusty_bOOz]

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             CHAPTER 10 — ACHANEK AAYI VIPATTI
================================================== 


Bangley ko sajane aur rasoi sambhalne wale din ko beete abhi do hi hafte hue the. Zindagi apni aam raftaar se chal rahi thi, lekin ek shaam iss shaanti par achanak musibat ki ek kaali chhaaya mandrane lagi.

Raat ke kareeb 11 baje the. Ghar ke sabhi log sone ki tayyari kar rahe the. Sonam rasoi ki aakhri safai karke apne kamre mein aayi, toh usne dekha ki uske pati bed par baithe hue the aur unka haath apne seene par tha. Unka chehra pasine se tar tha aur saans lene mein behad takleef ho rahi thi.

"Sonam... seene mein bohot tezz dard ho raha hai... saans nahi aa rahi," unke muh se adhoori aawaz nikli.

Sonam ke haath se kapda chhut gaya. Uske chehre ka rang ud gaya. Usne turant aage badhkar unhe sambhala, "Kya hua? Aap theek toh hain na? Suno! Bada beta! Jaldi aao!"

Sonam ki aawaz sunkar bada beta aur Nana ji daudte hue kamre mein aaye. Pati ki halat dekhkar ghar mein afra-tafri mach gayi. Bada beta turant pados ke doctor ko phone milane laga, lekin raat ke iss waqt koi phone nahi utha raha tha. Gali mein auto ya taxi milna bhi mushkil tha.

Pati ki halat har minute ke saath bigadti ja rahi thi. Nana ji ke haath kaanpne lage aur saas kamre ke kone mein baithkar rone lagi.

Sonam ka dil ghabrahat se zorse dhadak raha tha, lekin usne khud ko sambhala. Usne dekha ki waqt haath se nikal raha hai. Aise waqt mein use sirf ek hi cheez yaad aayi.

Usne turant apna phone uthaya aur kaanphte haathon se Vikram ka number dial kiya.

Phone par pehli hi ring mein Vikram ne call uthaya. Uske bolne ka tarika ekdum alert tha—

"Haan Sonam ji? Sab theek toh hai?"

Sonam ki awaaz ruyin se bhari thi, "Vikram ji... inki tabiyat bohot kharab ho gayi hai. Seene mein tezz dard hai, saans nahi mil rahi... humein samajh nahi aa raha kya karein..."

Vikram ne ek second bhi zaya nahi kiya. Uski awaaz ekdum gambhir aur aatmanirbhar ho gayi—

"Sonam ji, aap bilkul mat ghabraiye. Unhe seedha leta dijiye aur pankha chala dijiye. Main paanch minute mein ambulance aur sarkari hospital ki cardiac unit ko alert karke pahunch raha hoon. Aap bas shant rahiye."

Call cut hote hi Sonam ko ek aisi taakat ka ehsaas hua jaise koi majboot chatthan unke saath khadi ho.

Kareeb saat minute mein hi ghar ke bahar siren ki aawaz sunai di.

Vikram apni sarkari car ke saath advanced cardiac ambulance lekar pahunch chuka tha. Uske saath hospital ki trained medical team bhi thi. Vikram daudte hue andar aaya, uske chehre par zaroori gambhirta thi lekin koi pareshani nahi.

"Doctor, check timeline immediately!" Vikram ne order diya.

Paramedics ne turant Sonam ke pati ko stretcher par liya aur oxygen support lagaya. Vikram ne khud aage badhkar stretcher ko gaadi tak pahunchane mein madad ki.

"Uncle ji, aap aur bada beta mere saath gaadi mein baithiye. Sonam ji, aap ambulance mein inke paas baithiye," Vikram ne bohot hi tezz aur sateek faisle liye.

City ke sabse bade Heart Institute mein Vikram ne pehle se hi emergency ICU aur senior cardiologists ko tayyar rakha tha. Jaisey hi ambulance hospital pahunchi, medical team ne pati ko turant ICU mein shift kar diya.

❖ ❖ ❖

ICU ke bahar ka corridor behad shant tha.

Nana ji bench par baithe hue the aur bada beta unke paas khada tha. Sonam corridor ki khidki ke paas khadi aasmaan ki taraf dekh rahi thi, uske haath prarthna mein jude hue the. Uski saree ka pallu thoda bikhra hua tha aur chehre par gehri chinta thi.

Vikram doctor se baat karke Sonam ki taraf badha. Uske haath mein paani ki botal aur do cup garam chai thi.

Usne paani ki botal aur chai Nana ji ko di, aur phir ek cup chai lekar Sonam ke paas aaya.

"Sonam ji..." Vikram ne behad narm aawaz mein aawaz di.

Sonam ne mudkar dekha. Uski aankhon mein aansu thin.

"Doctor ne kya kaha Vikram ji?" Sonam ne kaanphti awaaz mein pucha.

Vikram ne chai ka cup meez par rakha aur behad aadar se kaha, "Minor attack tha Sonam ji. Time par hospital pahunchne ki wajah se koi gehra damage nahi hua hai. Doctor ne abhi medication de di hai, woh bilkul khatre se bahar hain."

Yeh sunte hi Sonam ke ghotne jaise jawab de gaye. Uski saans mein saans aayi aur woh khidki ke sahare tik gayi. Uske gaalon par se aansu beh nikle.

Vikram ne ek step aage badhaya, lekin apni maryada mein rehte hue ruk gaya. Usne behad gehri nazar se Sonam ko dekha.

"Aapne bohot himmat dikhayi Sonam ji. Agar aap sahi waqt par call nahi karti, toh mushkil ho sakti thi," Vikram ne kaha.

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein sirf shukriya nahi, balki ek aisa ehsaas tha jo lafzon se pare tha. Raat ke do baje, jab poori duniya so rahi thi, yeh aadmi unke parivaar ke liye ek dhal ban kar khada tha. Unke liye saari sarkari machinery, doctors aur ambulances ka intezaam karna... yeh sab sirf ek farz nahi tha, yeh uska gehra apnapan tha.

"Agar aaj aap nahi hote Vikram ji... toh pata nahi kya hota," Sonam ne rotay hue kaha.

Vikram ne apni jeb se rumal nikala aur Sonam ke haath par rakh diya—bina uske haath ko chhuye.

"Main hoon na Sonam ji... aapko kabhi akele nahi padne doonga. Main aakhir kis din kaam aaunga?"

Sonam ne rumal se apne aansu ponchhe aur Vikram ki taraf dekha. Unn dono ke beech koi prem-patra ya shabdon ka aada-pradan nahi hua tha, lekin iss sankat ki shaam ne unke rishte ko itna majboot aur pavitra bana diya tha ki duniya ki koi taakat use tod nahi sakti thi.

Subah ki pehli kiran hospital ki khidki se andar aayi, toh Sonam ke pati ko ICU se private ward mein shift kar diya gaya. Vikram poori raat corridor mein jaagti aakhon se khada raha, ek majboot chhaon ki tarah.

[Lusty_bOOz]

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CHAPTER 11 — UNKAHE KHAYAL AUR EK KANP-TI AAHAT
================================================== 


Hospital se chhutti mile ek hafta beet chuka tha.

Ghar ka mahaul ab pehle se kaafi shant aur aatmiya ho gaya tha. Sonam ke pati ko doctor ne poora rest lene ki salah di thi, isliye woh drawing room mein lage sofa par relaxed baithte the. Sonam unki har choti-moti zaroorat ka dhyan rakhti—waqt par dawaiyaan dena, bina tel ka saadha khana banana, aur unke blood pressure ki jaanch karwana.

Iss pure hafte mein, Sonam ke pati ke dil mein ek baat behad gehri baith gayi thi: agar us raat Vikram sahi waqt par ambulance aur senior doctors ka intezaam nahi karta, toh shayad aaj woh iss parivaar ke beech zinda nahi hote.

"Sonam," pati ne dophar mein chai peete hue kaha, "Vikram ji ne humare liye jo kiya hai, uska ehsaan hum zindagi bhar nahi utar sakte. Unhe kisi din ghar par bulao, main unka shukriya ada karna chahta hoon."

Sonam ne plate mein biscuit rakhte hue behad halki si muskaan ke saath sir jhukaya. "Woh toh roz Nana ji se phone par aapki tabiyat ka haal poochte hain. Main unhe bol doongi."

Usne ussi shaam Nana ji ke zariye Vikram ko khabar bhijwayi. Vikram ne shaam aath baje aane ki haami bhar li.

❖ ❖ ❖

Vikram ke aane ki khabar sunte hi Sonam ne ghar ki safai aur khane ki tayyari shuru kar di. Usne aaj light peach rang ki suti saree pehni thi, jiske border par halki si resham ki patti thi.

Raat ke aath bajte hi bahar gaadi ke rukne ki aahat hui.

Bada beta daudkar gate kholne gaya. Vikram andar aaya—aaj usne bilkul simple cream color ka kurta aur white pyjama pehena tha. Uske haath mein taaza phoolon ka bouquet aur pati ke liye khas sugar-free juices aur fruits ka dabba tha.

"Pranam Uncle ji! Kaise hain aap ab?" Vikram ne aage badhkar pati ke paon chhoone ka prayas kiya, lekin pati ne turant use rokte hue gale laga liya.

"Arey Vikram ji! Aap mere paon mat chhuiye. Aapne toh meri jaan bachayi hai, aap mere liye kisi devta se kam nahi hain," pati ki aankhein bhar aayi thin.

Vikram ne behad adab aur namrata se kaha, "Aisa mat kahiye Uncle ji. Yeh toh mera farz tha. Aur waise bhi, aap toh mere apne parivaar jaise hain."

Nana ji aur saas bhi wahan aa gaye. Poora parivaar Vikram ki izzat aur aadar mein bichha ja raha tha. Subah se shaam tak kaam mein uljhi Sonam, rasoi ke kone se yeh sab dekh rahi thi. Vikram ka yeh badappan aur ghar ke logon ke prati uski sachhi shradha dekhkar Sonam ka dil ek anjaan garv aur aatmiyata se bhar utha.

Khane ke baad sabhi log verandah mein baith kar aam baatein karne lage. Pati thoda thak gaye the, isliye unhe kamre mein aaram karne ke liye bhej diya gaya. Nana ji aur saas bhi apne-apne kamron mein chale gaye.

Bada beta Vikram ke saath baten karte-karte unke sarkari laptop par kuch security applications ke baare mein pooch raha tha.

"Sonam ji, chai milegi?" Vikram ne rasoi ki taraf dekhkar aawaz di, lekin uski awaaz mein behad aadar aur narmi thi.

Sonam chai ke do cup lekar bahar aayi. Ek cup usne apne bete ko diya aur doosra cup Vikram ke paas rakha.

"Main uncle ke liye kuch papers lene kamre mein jata hoon," beta itna kehkar andar bhag gaya.

Verandah mein ek sudden sannaata chha gaya. Baahar halki saardiyon ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi aur aangan ke pedon ke patte sar-sarah rahe the.

Sonam verandah ke pillar ke paas khadi ho gayi. Vikram ne chai ka ek ghoont liya aur Sonam ki taraf dekha.

"Aap pehle se thodi kamzor lag rahi hain Sonam ji. Baar-baar hospital aur ghar ke kamon ne aapko thaka diya hai," Vikram ne behad aatmiya awaaz mein kaha.

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein rozmarra ke shor se pare, sirf aur sirf Sonam ke liye ek behad gehra dhyan (care) tha.

"Main theek hoon Vikram ji," Sonam ne aanchal ko ungliyon se pakadte hue kaha. "Aapne raat ko jaagkar jo hamari madad ki thi... main aaj tak aapko sahi se shukriya bhi nahi keh payi."

Vikram sofa se khada hua aur Sonam ke paas aakar ruka—thodi doori par, lekin itna paas ki dono ek-doosre ki saanson ki thandak aur garmahat ko mehsoos kar sakte the.

"Mujhe aapke shukriya ki zaroorat nahi hai Sonam ji," Vikram ne gehri aawaz mein kaha. "Jab aapne us raat mujhe phone kiya tha... toh mujhe laga ki poori duniya mein kisi ne mujhe apna samajhkar sabse pehle yaad kiya hai. Mere liye aapka woh vishwas hi sab kuch hai."

Sonam ne apna sar uthaya. Vikram ki aankhon mein koi samajik chaalaaki nahi thi, koi galat irada nahi tha—wahan sirf ek shuddh, pavitra aur aatmiya prem tha jo kisi maryada ko todna nahi chahta tha, balki use aur majboot banata tha.

Sonam ki palkein halki si jhuk gayin. Uski dhadkan tezz thi, lekin andar ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha.

"Vikram ji... aap hamare jeevan mein ek aisi chhaon ki tarah aaye hain jiska koi mol nahi hai," Sonam ne behad narm lafzon mein bola.

Vikram ne ek halki si muskaan ke saath apna haath hawa mein aage badhaya—aur Sonam ke haath ke behad paas rok diya. Haath chhuye nahi, lekin un dono ke beech ki tarang ne ek-doosre ke dil ko chhoo liya.

"Jab tak main iss shehar mein hoon... aapko kisi cheez se darrne ki zaroorat nahi hai Sonam ji," Vikram ne vaada kiya.

Tabhi andar se bete ke aane ki aahat hui. Vikram thoda peeche hat gaya aur Sonam ne muskurate hue apna rukh aangan ki taraf kar liya.

Unke beech koi vaada nahi hua tha, koi prem-samvaad nahi hua tha, lekin us shaam unke beech ka rishta shabdon se behad upar uthkar ek aisi aatmiya bhasha ban chuka tha jise sirf unka dil samajhta tha.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
           CHAPTER 12 — EK ANJAANI YAAD AUR TAYYARI
================================================== 


Sardi ka mausam ab lagbhag jaan ko tha aur halki garmi ke sath shaam ko gulabi thandak ka ehsaas hota tha. Sonam ke pati ki tabiyat ab poori tarah theek ho chuki thi aur woh apne daily routine par wapas laut chuke the.

Ek din dophar mein, Nana ji aur Vikram ke beech phone par baat ho rahi thi. Nana ji ne phone loudspeaker par rakha hua tha kyunki unke haath mein chashma saaf karne ka kapda tha.

"Vikram beta, iss hafte tumhara birthday aane wala hai na? 25 tareek ko?" Nana ji ne pucha.

Vikram ne doosri taraf se ek halki muskaan ke sath kaha, "Arre Uncle ji, aapko abhi tak yaad hai? Haan, hai toh 25 tareek ko hi. Lekin main birthday waisa manaane mein vishwas nahi rakhta. Meri maa ke jaane ke baad se main uss din bas duty karta hoon aur shaam ko ghar par akela rehkar thodi shanti se waqt guzarta hoon."

Rasoi mein chai ke bartan dhoti hui Sonam ke haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaye.

25 tareek... parso hi toh hai.

Sonam ke dil mein ek ajeeb si kasak hui. Ek aisa shakhs jo poore shehar ke logon ke liye, aur unke parivaar ke liye ek majboot chatthan ki tarah khada rehta tha—woh apne hi janamdin par bilkul akela rehta tha. Uska soona bangla, uski akeli shaam... yeh khayal Sonam ke dil ko chhoo gaya.

Sonam ne socha ki woh koi bada jashn nahi banayegi, kyunki samajik maryadaon aur Vikram ki saadgi dono ka khayal rakhna zaroori tha. Lekin woh Vikram ko yeh zaroor ehsaas karwana chahti thi ki iss duniya mein koi hai jise uske honay se khushi milti hai.

❖ ❖ ❖

25 tareek ki dophar ko, Sonam ne ghar ke saare kaam jaldi nitaar liye. Usne pati ko bata diya ki woh Nana ji ke sath paas ke baazaar se kuch gharelu samaan lene ja rahi hai.

Sonam ne khud apne haath se Vikram ke liye khas kheer banayi—wohi kheer jo Vikram ne ek baar rasoi mein chai peete hue bataya tha ki uski maa har birthday par banaya karti thi. Usne kheer ko ek pyaare se tiffin dibbe mein pack kiya. Saath hi, usne ek sundar sa banyan leaf (bargad ka patta) le kar uspar ek chhotisi prarthna likhi aur use ek safed dhaage se baandh diya.

Nana ji ko Sonam ne pehle hi iss chhotey se surprise mein shaamil kar liya tha. Nana ji ne muskura kar kaha tha, "Sonam beta, tum bilkul sahi kar rahi ho. Vikram ne humare liye jo kiya hai, uske aage yeh kuch bhi nahi. Chalo, main tumhare sath chal doonga."

Dophar ke teen baje, jab Vikram apni office ki meetings mein vyast tha, Sonam aur Nana ji ek auto karke Vikram ke official bungalow pahunche.

Bangley ka caretaker Sonam aur Nana ji ko achhi tarah pehchanta tha. Usne turant darwaza khol diya.

"Sahab toh char baje tak aayenge ma'am," caretaker ne kaha.

"Koi baat nahi, hum unke aane se pehle bas unki dining table par kuch rakhne aaye hain," Nana ji ne kaha.

Sonam ne drawing room ki dining table ko saaf kiya. Usne tiffin table par rakha, uske paas do chhotey mitti ke diye sajaaye, aur woh bargad ke patte wali prarthna card tiffin ke bagal mein rakh di. Sonam ke haath kaanp rahe the, lekin uske chehre par ek behad pavitra khushi thi.

Sonam aur Nana ji shaam char baje se pehle hi wapas ghar laut aaye, taaki Vikram ko koi aashcharya na ho aur koi samajik sawaal bhi na uthe.

Shaam ke kareeb paanch baje, Vikram thaka-haara apne bangley par lauta. Din bhar office mein mubaarakbaad dene walon ki bheed thi, lekin uske dil mein wohi purana akelapan tha. Woh ghar ke andar aaya aur jaise hi drawing room mein dakhil hua, uski nazrein dining table par gayi.

Dining table par ek sundar sa tiffin rakha tha, aur uske sath mitti ke do diye aur ek bargad ka patta.

Vikram ke kadam wahan ruk gaye. Usne aage badhkar tiffin ka dhakkan khola. Andar taaza, ilaichi ki khushboo wali kheer thi.

Vikram ne us bargad ke patte ko uthaya. Uspar Sonam ki saaf aur khoobsurat hand-writing mein likha tha:

"Aapki zindagi hamesha roshan rahe, aur aapki shanti ko kabhi kisi ki nazar na lage. Janamdin bohot bohot mubaarak ho, Vikram ji."

Vikram uss chhotey se patrika aur kheer ke tiffin ko dekhta reh gaya. Saalon baad, kisi ne uske birthday par uski maa ki tarah kheer banayi thi. Uski aankhon mein achanak nami aa gayi. Woh afsar jo har mushkil mein shaant rehta tha, aaj iss sadharan se uphaar ko dekhkar emotional ho gaya.

Usne turant apna phone nikala aur Sonam ka number dial kiya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Sonam apne kamre mein khidki ke paas khadi thi, jab uska phone baja. Uski dhadkan tezz ho gayi. Usne phone uthaya.

"Hello... Vikram ji?" Sonam ne halki awaaz mein kaha.

Doosri taraf ek lambi saans ki aawaz aayi. Phir Vikram ki awaaz aayi—usme ek behad gehra aur bhara hua ehsaas tha.

"Sonam ji..." Vikram ne bas itna hi kaha. Uska gala bhar aaya tha.

"Aapko kheer kaisi lagi?" Sonam ne halki si muskaan ke sath pucha. Uski awaaz mein ek meethi aatmiyata thi.

"Yeh... yeh mere jeevan ka sabse khoobsurat janamdin hai, Sonam ji," Vikram ne behad dheemey se kaha. "Maa ke jaane ke baad aaj pehli baar laga ki koi mera bhi hai... jo mere akelapan ko samajhta hai."

Sonam ne khidki se bahar dhalati hui shaam ko dekha. Uske aansu uske gaal par beh nikle, lekin yeh aansu kisi dukh ke nahi, balki ek shuddh apnapan ke the.

"Aap kabhi akele nahi hain Vikram ji," Sonam ne kaha. "Bhagwan ne aapko itna sabko dene wala banaya hai... hum bas aapki khushi ke liye prarthna kar sakte hain."

Vikram ne phone ko kaan se lagaye rakha. "Main kheer khane ja raha hoon. Lagta hai jaise har ek chammach mein aapki dua aur shanti ghuli hui hai. Shukriya... iss soone ghar mein diye jalane ke liye."

"Aapna dhyan rakhna, Vikram ji. Janamdin mubaarak," Sonam ne kaha aur behad shanti se phone cut kar diya.

Sonam ne phone seene se laga liya. Unke beech koi physical touch nahi tha, koi samajik samjhauta nahi tha—lekin unke dil ke taar ek aisi dori se bandh chuke the jo samajik maryadaon ki har seema se upar aur pavitra thi.

[Lusty_bOOz]

================================================== 
          CHAPTER 13 — EK CHHATARI KE NEECHE KA SANNAATA
================================================== 


Mausam ne achanak apna mizaaj badal liya tha.

Shaam ke teen baje tak jahan halki dhoop khili hui thi, wahan chaar bajte-bajte aasmaan mein kaale baadal ghir aaye. Hawa mein ek ajeeb sa tezz rawani aur mitti ki sondhi khushboo ghulne lagi. Be-mausam ki iss aandhi aur aashanka ne shehar ke rasthon par halchal badha di thi.

Sonam ghar ke kisi zaroori kaam aur Nana ji ki dawaiyan lene ke liye paas ke baazaar gayi hui thi.

Usne halki neeli (light blue) suti saree pehen rakhi thi. Jab woh chemist ki dukaan se bahar nikli, toh aasmaan mein bijli kadak uthi aur agle hi pal musladaar baarish shuru ho gayi. Baarish itni tezz thi ki sadak par paani ka bahaav badhne laga aur sabhi log dukaanon ke chajjon ke neeche chhipne lage.

Sonam ne apne aanchal se dawaiyon ke thaili ko dhak liya aur mandir ke paas bani ek chhote se purane bus stop ke chhat ke neeche aakar khadi ho gayi.

Baarish ke thande thappad aur hawa ki wajha se Sonam ko halki si thandak lagne lagi. Uske paas na toh chhatari thi aur na hi koi auto mil raha tha. Sadak par gaadiyon ki aawajaahi lagbhag ruk si gayi thi.

Sonam ne sadak ki taraf dekha, uske haath mein pakdi dawaiyon ki thaili ko woh bachaane ki koshish kar rahi thi. Uski saari suti saree ke kinare baaris ki boondon se bheeg chuke the.

Tabhi door se ek kaali sarkari SUV dhandhalati hui aayi. Gaadi ki headlights ki roshni paani ki boondon mein chamak rahi thi.

Gaadi bus stop ke bilkul samne aakar ruk gayi.

Gaadi ka pichhla darwaza khula aur usmein se ek lambi chhaaya bahar nikli—hath mein ek badi kaali chhatari (umbrella) pakde hue.

Sonam ne hairani se dekha. Woh Vikram tha.

Vikram ne dark grey formal suit pehen rakha tha. Woh tezz baarish mein chhatari taane hue seedha Sonam ki taraf badha. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi fikar thi jise woh chahkar bhi nahi chhipa sakta tha.

"Sonam ji!" Vikram ne tezz baarish ki awaaz ke beech behad narm par gambhir awaaz mein kaha.

Sonam ne use dekha, uski dhadkan achanak ruk si gayi. "Vikram ji... aap yahan?"

"Main headquarters se laut raha tha, tabhi sadak par aapko dekha," Vikram ne chhatari ko Sonam ke sar ke upar is tarah failaya ki baarish ki ek bhi boond ab Sonam par na gire—bhale hi Vikram ka apna daaya kandha baarish mein bheeg raha tha.

"Aap poori bheeg rahi hain Sonam ji. Aaiye, main aapko gaadi mein chhod deta hoon," Vikram ne aagrah kiya.

Sonam ne sadak par bheed aur pados ke logon ka dhyan rakhte hue thodi jhijhak dikhayi. "Nahi Vikram ji... main thodi der mein auto pakad loongi. Aapki gaadi mein..."

Vikram ne Sonam ki aankhon mein dekha. Uski nazar mein koi samajik chaalaaki nahi thi, sirf ek shuddh aadar aur sanrakshan (protection) ka bhav tha.

"Aise mausam mein koi auto nahi milega Sonam ji. Aur aap mere parivaar jaisi hain, aapko iss tarah baarish mein chhodkar jana mere liye sambhav nahi hai. Kripya baithiye."

Vikram ki awaaz ke uss vishwas ne Sonam ke mann ke saare darr ko khatam kar diya.

Sonam ne halka sa sir jhukaya. Vikram use chhatari ki chhaon mein lekar gaadi tak aaya. Dono ek hi chhatari ke neeche bilkul paas chal rahe the. Baarish ki boondein chhatari ke kapde par tap-tap kar gir rahi thin, lekin uss chhoti si chhaon ke andar ek behad shaant aur garam duniya thi. Sonam ko Vikram ke shoulder se aati suti kapdon aur rain-drops ki khushboo mehsoos ho rahi thi.

Vikram ne gaadi ka pichhla darwaza khola. Sonam andar baith gayi. Vikram ne chhatari band ki aur aage ki seat par driver ke paas baith gaya.

"Ghar ki taraf chalo," Vikram ne driver ko nirdesh diya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Gaadi ki khidkiyon par paani ki boondein dhal rahi thin. Inside the car, it was warm and quiet.

Vikram ne mirror mein se Sonam ki taraf dekha. Usne apni jeb se ek safed, dry handkerchief nikala aur peeche Sonam ki taraf badhaya.

"Yeh lijiye... apne chehre aur haathon ko poch lijiye, warna sardi lag jayegi."

Sonam ne woh rumal thama. Rumal mein Vikram ka hi ek aatmiya ehsaas tha. Usne chupchap apne chehre aur haathon ki boondon ko pochha.

"Aapka kandha bheeg gaya hai Vikram ji," Sonam ne mirror mein Vikram ki taraf dekhkar dheere se kaha.

Vikram ne apne bheege hue kandhe ki taraf dekha aur muskura diya. "Yeh baarish toh thodi der mein sookh jayegi Sonam ji... lekin aapko sahi-salamat ghar pahunchana zaroori tha."

Sonam ne nazar jhuka li. Zindagi ke iss mod par, bina kisi adhikaar ya vaade ke, yeh aadmi uski chhotise chhoti takleef ka dhyan iss tarah rakhta tha jaise duniya ki sabse keemati cheez wohi ho.

Gaadi Sonam ke ghar ke gate par ruki. Baarish ab thodi dheemi ho chuki thi.

Vikram ne khud uthkar Sonam ke liye darwaza khola aur chhatari ko dubara unke upar taan diya taaki woh aangan tak safely pahunch sakein.

Verandah ke paas pahunchkar Sonam ruki aur mudkar Vikram ko dekha.

"Shukriya... aaj ke liye," Sonam ke muh se nikal.

Vikram ne chhatari ko thoda jhukate hue haath jode. "Apna dhyan rakhna Sonam ji. Garam chai peeyiyega."

Sonam ne muskurate hue haan mein sir hila diya.

Vikram gaadi mein baithkar rawana ho gaya. Sonam verandah mein khadi hokar uss kaali gaadi ko jaate dekhne lagi. Uske haath mein abhi bhi Vikram ka woh safed rumal tha—ek aisa rumal jo sirf kapda nahi tha, balki ek anjaan rishte ki woh aatmiya chhaon tha jo har toofan mein use sambhal leti thi.

[Lusty_bOOz]

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         CHAPTER 14 — UNKAHA UPHAAR AUR PAVITRA EHSAAS
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Sardi ki aakhri aahat ke baad ab basant ki thandi, suhaani dhoop aur shaam ko ek meethi rangini phailne lagi thi.

Sonam ke ghar mein aaj ek khas raunak thi. Sonam ke pati poori tarah swasth ho chuke the aur unhone apni company ke ek naye project ki safalta aur parivaar ke sabhi sankaton ke talne ki khushi mein ek chhotey se family dinner ka aayojan kiya tha.

Is dinner ke mukhya mehman zaroor Vikram hi the.

Khane ki tayyari dophar se hi shuru ho gayi thi. Sonam ne aaj apni pasand ki light teal-green rang ki silk saree pehni thi, jiske pallu par halka sa golden work tha. Usne maathe par ek chhoti si bindi lagayi aur baalon mein taaza mogre ki gajra sajaya tha. Uski aakhon mein ek aisi shanti aur chehre par rangini thi jo poore ghar ko roshan kar rahi thi.

Raat ke aath bajte hi Vikram ki gaadi bahar ruki.

Vikram ne aaj light cream color ka silk kurta aur white churidar pehena hua tha. Uske haath mein Nana ji ke liye gaon se aayi khas mithai, pati ke liye ek achhi kitaab, aur parivaar ke liye dry fruits ki basket thi.

"Aaiye, aaiye Vikram ji! Hum aapka hi intezaar kar rahe the," Sonam ke pati ne aage badhkar Vikram ka behad garmahat se swagat kiya.

Nana ji ne Vikram ke sar par haath rakhkar aashirwad diya. Saas ne bhi Vikram ko ek bete jaisa sneha dikhaya.

Sonam rasoi se sarbat ke glass tray mein lekar aayi. Dono ki nazrein milin. Vikram ne Sonam ko dekha—us teal-green saree aur mogre ki khushboo mein Sonam behad pavitra aur khoobsurat lag rahi thi.

"Namaste, Sonam ji," Vikram ne haath jodh kar kaha, uski awaaz mein ek anjaan narmi thi.

"Namaste Vikram ji," Sonam ne halka sa sir jhukakar javab diya. Uski gaalon par halki si surkhi aa gayi thi.

Khana behad shaandar tha. Sonam ne Vikram ki pasand ka khas dhyan rakhte hue saadha, masaledar se pare, behad swadisht khana banaya tha. Subah se shaam tak kaam karne ke bawajood, Sonam ke chehre par thakan ki jagah ek meethi muskaan thin.

Khane ke baad sabhi log courtyard (aangan) mein baith kar chai peene lage. Nana ji aur pati Vikram se shehar ke naye vikas aur security arrangements ke baare mein baat kar rahe the.

Kareeb das baje, Vikram ne jaane ki ijazat maangi.

"Accha Uncle ji, ab mujhe nikalna chahiye. Kal subah jaldi ek meeting hai," Vikram ne khade hote hue kaha.

Sabhi log use gate tak chhodne ke liye aaye. Vikram ne sabhi se bida li. Lekin jab woh gate ke paas pahuncha, toh usne apne kurta ke andar waali jeb se ek chhota sa, patla sa brown paper envelope nikala.

Usne behad sabhya tarike se woh envelope Nana ji aur pati ke samne Sonam ki taraf badhaya.

"Sonam ji... yeh ek chhota sa gift hai aapke liye. Kripya ise swikaar kijiyega," Vikram ne kaha.

Sonam thodi chaunk gayi. Ghar ke baki log bhi Vikram ki taraf dekhne lage.

Pati ne muskura kar kaha, "Arey Vikram ji, iski kya zaroorat thi? Aap aaye, humare sath waqt bitaya, wohi bohot hai."

Vikram ne behad adab se pati aur Nana ji ki taraf dekha aur bola, "Uncle ji, iss ghar ne mujhe jo apnapan aur vishwas diya hai, uska koi mol nahi hai. Parso main ek sarkari exhibition mein gaya tha, wahan yeh dekh kar mujhe laga ki yeh Sonam ji ke liye hi bana hai."

Sonam ne kaanpte haathon se woh envelope thama.

Vikram ne haath jode, sabhi ko pranam kiya aur apni gaadi mein baithkar rawana ho gaya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ghar ke sabhi log apne-apne kamron mein chale gaye.

Sonam apne kamre mein aayi. Pati sone ki tayyari kar rahe the aur pehle hi bed par leta chuke the. Sonam ne kamre ki lights thodi dheemi ki aur dresser ke paas aakar woh envelope khola.

Envelope ke andar ek behad khoobsurat, haath se bani hui wooden bookmark thi. Uspar ek bargad ke ped ke neeche baithi hui ek stree ki chhaaya painter dwara banayi gayi thi, aur uske neeche behad baareek aksharon mein ek kavitayi panti (line) likhi thi:

"Jo sabko chhaon deti hai, uske dil ki shanti duniya ka sabse khoobsurat phool hai."

Bookmark ke saath ek chhoti si silver-embossed pen bhi thi.

Sonam uss uphaar ko dekhti reh gayi.

Vikram ne koi mehenga gehna ya kapda nahi diya tha—jo shayad samajik maryadaon ke khilaaf lagta ya ajeeb lag sakta tha. Usne ek aisa uphaar diya tha jo Sonam ki aatmanirbharta, uske shauk (reading/writing) aur uski bheetari shanti ki izzat karta tha. Yeh uphaar batata tha ki Vikram use kitna baareeki se samajhta tha.

Sonam ne bookmark aur pen ko apne seene se laga liya. Usne khidki se bahar aasmaan mein chamakte taaron ko dekha.

Unke beech koi rasmi rishta nahi tha, lekin iss chhoti si saughat ne unke beech ek aisa aatmiya aur pavitra dhora baandh diya tha jo kisi bhi lafz ya rishte ke naam se behad upar aur khoobsurat tha.

[Lusty_bOOz]

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         CHAPTER 15 — AAKHRI BIDAI AUR PAVITRA AMAR PREM
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Vaqt ki chaal hamesha ek jaisi nahi rehti. Jab zindagi mein sab kuch behad shant, khoobsurat aur ek meethi lay mein dhalne lagta hai, tabhi kismat koi aisa mod le aati hai jiska kisi ne gumaan bhi nahi kiya hota.

Basant ki dhalati hui shaam thin. Sonam ke ghar mein rozmarra ki aam halchal chal rahi thi.

Sonam verandah mein baithkar shaam ki sabzi kaat rahi thi aur uske paas rakhe wooden bookmark par uski nazar baar-baar chali jaati thi—wohi bookmark jo Vikram ne use dinner par diya tha. Us bookmark ko dekhkar hi uske andar ek anjaani shanti bhar jaati thi.

Tabhi ghar ke bahar tezz gaadi ke rukne ki aahat hui.

Lekin iss baar gaadi ki aawaz mein pehle jaisa thahrav nahi tha—usmein ek ajeeb sa ujaad aur jaldbazi thi.

Sonam ne plate ek taraf rakhi aur bahar aayi. Vikram gaadi se utar raha tha. Usne aaj apni formal IPS uniform pehen rakhi thi, lekin uska chehra behad gambhir, utara hua aur khamosh tha. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi udaasi thi jo Sonam ne aaj tak nahi dekhi thi.

Nana ji aur pati bhi bahar aa gaye.

"Arre Vikram beta! Iss waqt? Aur uniform mein? Sab theek toh hai na?" Nana ji ne chinta se pucha.

Vikram ne behad gambhirta se Nana ji ke paon chhue aur pati se haath milaya. Usne ek gehri saans li aur bola—

"Uncle ji... ek achanak emergency transfer order aaya hai. Home Ministry se order hai... mujhe kal subah hi North-East headquarters report karna hai. Border security ki emergency unit ki command mujhe di gayi hai."

Yeh sunte hi verandah mein ek sudden sannaata chha gaya.

Nana ji ka chehra utar gaya. "Kal subah? Itni jaldi beta? Abhi toh tum yahan shift hue the..."

Sonam pillar ke paas khadi thi. Vikram ke lafz sunte hi uske haath se saree ka pallu chhut gaya. Uska dil jaise ek pal ke liye rukh gaya ho. Vikram... iss shehar se... itni door ja raha hai?

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf dekha. Dono ki nazrein milin. Uss ek nazar mein sau sawal the, hazaron unkahe lafz the, aur ek behad gehra dard tha.

"Senior officers ko turant move karna hota hai Uncle ji," Vikram ne apni awaaz ko sambhalte hue kaha. "Main kal subah ki flight se nikal raha hoon. Isliye bas aap sabhi se aakhri baar milne aur aashirwad lene aaya tha."

Ghar ke andar sabhi log baith gaye. Nana ji aur pati Vikram se uske naye assignment aur safety ke baare mein baat kar rahe the. Sonam rasoi mein chali gayi—usne chai ke liye paani chhadhaya, lekin uske haath itne kaanp rahe the ki bartan ki aawaz poori rasoi mein gunj rahi thi. Uski aankhon se aansu continuously beh rahe the.

Vikram ne rasoi se aati aawaz ko mehsoos kiya.

"Uncle ji, main rasoi se paani pi kar aata hoon," Vikram ne keh kar khada hua aur rasoi ki taraf badh gaya.

Rasoi ke darwaze par Vikram aakar ruka. Sonam slabh ke sahare khadi thi, uski peeth darwaze ki taraf thi aur uske shane (shoulders) halki si sisakiyo se hil rahe the.

"Sonam ji..." Vikram ne behad dheemi aur kaanphti awaaz mein bola.

Sonam ne mudkar dekha. Uske gaalon par aansuon ki lakirein thin. Uski aakhon mein Vikram ke jaane ka gehra dukh saaf jhalak raha tha.

"Aap... aap itni door ja rahe hain?" Sonam ne ruyin bhari awaaz mein pucha.

Vikram ne do kadam aage badhaye. Uski apni aankhein bhi nam thin. Usne afsar ki shaan ko ek taraf rakhkar, sirf ek sachhe prem ki nigaah se Sonam ko dekha.

"Farz aur kanoon mujhe door le ja rahe hain Sonam ji... lekin mera dil hamesha iss shehar mein, aapki uss shant muskaan ke paas hi rahega," Vikram ne behad aatmiya awaaz mein kaha.

Vikram ne apni jeb se ek chhota sa bargad ka patta aur ek shuddh chandi ki chhotisi flute (bansuri) ka pendant nikala. Usne ise slabh par rakha.

"Main jaata hoon... lekin main jaanta hoon ki humara rishta kisi samajik naam ya zaroorat ka mohataaj nahi tha. Aapne mujhe akelapan se nikala, mujhe ek aisi shanti di jo mujhe poori duniya mein kahin nahi mili," Vikram ne kaha.

Sonam ne uss pendant ko dekha aur phir Vikram ki aankhon mein dekha.

"Vikram ji..." Sonam ne apne aansu ponchhte hue behad majbooti se kaha, "Aap jahan bhi rahenge, meri prarthna aur mera vishwas hamesha aapke saath ek dhal ban kar chalega. Aap mere jeevan ka woh pavitra ehsaas hain... jise waqt ya doori kabhi kam nahi kar sakti."

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf apna haath badhaya—aur pehli aur aakhri baar, un dono ke haath ek-doosre se mile. Vikram ke bheege hue, garam haath ne Sonam ke kaanpte haathon ko sirf teen second ke liye thama. Uss ek sparsh mein unhone saalon ki tapasya, samman aur prem ko mehsoos kar liya.

"Alvida, Sonam ji. Apna aur parivaar ka dhyan rakhna," Vikram ne haath jodh kar kaha.

"Aap bhi apna dhyan rakhna... Vikram ji," Sonam ne bhi haath jode.

Vikram rasoi se bahar nikal gaya. Usne Nana ji ke paon chhue, pati se gale mila, aur bina pichhe mude apni gaadi ki taraf badh gaya.

Gaadi ke rawana hote hi Sonam verandah mein aakar khadi ho gayi. Musladaar shaam ki dhalati roshni mein kaali gaadi door hoti gayi aur aakhirkar sadak ke mod par gayab ho gayi.

Sonam ne apne haath mein pakdi uss chandi ki bansuri ke pendant ko seene se laga liya. Uski aankhon se aansu beh rahe the, lekin chehre par ek ajeeb sa devik sukoon aur garv tha. Vikram chala gaya tha... lekin unka prem aazaad tha, pavitra tha, aur samaj ki har maryada ko banaye rakhte hue amar ho chuka tha.

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                                           THE END
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[Lusty_bOOz]

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      KAHANI KA EK PAVITRA VIRAAM — AUTHOR'S NOTE
================================================== 


Priy Pathakon (Dear Readers),

Yeh kahani “Vikram aur Sonam” ab apne aakhri padav par pahunch chuki hai. Lekin kahani ke khatam hone ke baad, ek baat aap sabhi se dil se kehna behad zaroori hai.

Aaj ke iss dor mein, jab bhi hum internet ya sahitya (literature) mein do anjaan logon ke milne, unke beech ek anjaan koshish, aur unke gehrey rishte ki kahani padhte hain—toh aksar pathakon ke dimag mein ek hi khayal aata hai... “Aage chalkar inke beech koi najayaj rishta banega... yeh kahani jism ya havaz ke mod par jaakar rukegi.”

Aaj ki duniya ne rishton ki paribhasha ko behad chhota aur ganda bana diya hai. Log samajhte hain ki do logon ke beech ka aakarshan sirf jism (physicality) tak hi simit hai. Lekin iss kahani ka sabse bada maqsad aap sabhi ko yeh yaad dilana tha ki "Prem aur Aakarshan sirf jism ka nahi, balki Rooh (Soul) ka hota hai."

❖ ❖ ❖

Kyun Yeh Kahani Alag Thi?

1. Maryada aur Sammaan (Dignity & Respect):
   Sonam ek maryadit parivaar ki bahu thi, ek maa thi. Uski apni zimmedariyan thin. Vikram ek zimmedar sarkari afsar tha. Dono ne ek-doosre ke akelepan ko samjha, lekin kisi ne bhi apni maryada, samajik parampara aur sanskaron ki seema ko nahi toda.
   
   
2. Dohra Prem, Pavitra Bandhan:
   Rishta woh nahi hota jo samaj ki nazron mein chhipkar galti kare. Sachha rishta woh hota hai jo samne wale ki zaroorat mein uski dhal bane—jaise Vikram ne Sonam ke pati ki jaan bachayi, aur Sonam ne Vikram ke soone ghar mein diyo ki roshni bhari. Unka prem hawas (lust) par nahi, balki ek-doosre ke prati Izzat (Respect) par tikha hua tha.
   
   
3. Rooh ka Rishta (Spiritual Connection):
   Jism ka rishta toh waqt ke sath dhal jaata hai, lekin rooh ka rishta zindagi ke baad bhi amar rehta hai. Vikram aur Sonam ka milna koi paap nahi tha, woh do aisi aatmon ka milan tha jinhone bina kisi swarth ya vaade ke ek-doosre ke akelapan ko sahara diya.
   
   

❖ ❖ ❖

Zindagi Ka Sabse Bada Paath (Motivational Note):

Agar aapne iss kahani se kuch seekha hai, toh woh yeh hai ki:

"Prem ka matlab paana ya chhuna nahi hota... Prem ka sachha matlab hota hai kisi ke wajood ki izzat karna, uski khushi ki prarthna karna, aur use uski maryada mein rehkar aazad chhod dena."

Aapki zindagi mein bhi koi aisa shakhs ho sakta hai jise aap chhu nahi sakte, jisse aap shadi nahi kar sakte, jise aap samaj ke samne koi naam nahi de sakte—lekin agar aapke dil mein uske liye shuddh vishwas, izzat aur dua hai, toh woh rishta duniya ke har naam-dhari rishte se kahin zyada Pavitra (Holy) hai.

Har kahani ko jism ki gandagi par khatam hona zaroori nahi hota. Kuch kahaniyan dil ke un konon ko roshan kar jaati hain jahan sirf aur sirf shanti aur roohani sukoon hota hai.

Mujhe umeed hai ki Vikram aur Sonam ki yeh amar aur pavitra prem-gatha aapke dil mein hamesha ek meethi aahat bankar zinda rahegi.

Aap sabhi ka iss khoobsurat safar mein sath dene ke liye behad Shukriya!

[Lusty_bOOz]

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE STORY OF SONAM CONTINUE ?

[Lusty_bOOz]

ANY FEEDBACKS OR SUGGESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS STORY AND FOR FUTURE UPDATES

[Lusty_bOOz]

❖ PARDAY KE PEECHE: RAAZ ABHI BAKI HAI... ❖

(Vikram aur Sonam — Sequel Teaser)

Aapne socha ki kahani khatam ho gayi? Aapne socha ki unka prem aakhri bidai ke sath amar ho gaya aur sab kuch shant ho gaya?

Lekin sachai woh nahi hoti jo hamesha samne dikhti hai...

Vikram ke jaane ke baad, Sonam ne socha tha ki woh apni purani aam zindagi mein laut aayegi. Uske paas Vikram ki yaadein thin, chandi ki woh bansuri thi, aur ek pavitra ehsaas tha. Lekin woh ek baat bhool gayi thi—iss duniya mein kuch bhi chhipa nahi rehta.

Dhalati shaam ke sannate mein, Sonam ke phone par ek anjaan notification bajti hai. Screen par ek anjaan social media account se aaya hua message chamakta hai:

"Pavitra prem... ya parivaar ke peeche dhokha? IPS Vikram ke sath rasoi ki woh akhri bidai behad khoobsurat thi, Sonam ji. Lekin kya aapka parivaar aur yeh samaj iss 'Pavitra Prem' ko wahi naam dega?"

Message ke saath ek tasveer attached thi—wohi 3 second ka sparsh, jo rasoi mein Vikram aur Sonam ke beech hua tha. Unki ek-ek mulaqat, ek-ek muskaan, aur ek-ek chhupkar milna kisi teesre ki nazron mein kaid ho chuka tha.

Ek taraf Sonam ki izzat, uska parivaar aur uski maryada daanv par hai... aur doosri taraf door border par desh ki suraksha mein tainaat Vikram ka IPS career aur uski jaan!

• Kaun hai yeh anjaan shaks jo Sonam ki har harkat par nazar rakhe hue tha?
  
  
• Kya Vikram door rehkar bhi Sonam ko iss daldal se nikal payega?
  
  
• Aur kya yeh pavitra rishta samaj ke iss gehre aag mein jalne se bach payega... ya sab kuch tabaah ho jayega?
  
  

"Kahani abhi khatam nahi hui hai... asal imtihan toh ab shuru hua hai!"

Jald hi aa raha hai: VIKRAM AUR SONAM — SEASON 2 (CHHUPA HUA SAAYA)

[Lusty_bOOz]

SEASON 2 — CHAPTER 1

[PART 1: VARTAMAN (PRESENT) — GUMNAAM PEHACHAAN]

Musladaar shaam ki dhalati roshni mein IPS Vikram ki kaali gaadi sadak ke mod par gayab ho chuki thi.

Sonam ne rasoi ke slabh par rakhi chandi ki bansuri ke uss chhote se pendant ko apni mutthi mein kas kar mitch liya. Uski aankhon se behate aansu ab shant ho chuke the. Uss 3-second ke sparsh ne unke rishte ko samaj ki har maryada ke andar rehte hue hamesha ke liye aatmik aur amar bana diya tha.

Sonam ne uss pendant ko ek chhotey se lal kapde mein lapeta aur rasoi ke sabse chhupaye hue kone mein rakhi wooden box mein mehfooz kar diya.

Do din beet gaye. Ghar ki aam halchal waisi hi thi. Nana ji aur pati apne kaam mein mashgool the. Sonam ke dimaag mein Vikram ki yaad aur unke rishte ka sukoon ek dhal bankar khada tha.

Teesre din ki shaam, lagbhag 5 baje, Sonam rasoi mein chai ke liye paani chhadha rahi thi. Uski nazar verandah ke pillar par gayi, jahan do din pehle Vikram uniform mein khada tha.

Tabhi uske phone par ek tezz vibration hui.

Sonam ne phone uthaya. Ek anjaan, bina kisi naam wale number se message aaya tha. Message kholte hi Sonam ke haath se phone chhut-te chhut-te bacha.

Screen par ek photo chamak rahi thi—Rasoi ke darwaze par Vikram aur Sonam ki judi hui hatheriyan, aur dono ke chehre par ek-doosre se bida hone ka gehra dard!

Photo ke neeche likha tha:

"Pavitra Prem... ya parivaar ke peechhe chhipa dhokha? IPS Vikram ke saath yeh aakhri 3 second ka sparsh kitna roohani tha na, Sonam ji? Par kya aapka parivaar aur IPS Headquarters iss 'Pavitra Prem' ko wahi izzat dega?"

Sonam ka rang safed pad gaya. Uska dil itni tezz dhadakne laga jaise seena phaad kar bahar aa jayega. Rasoi mein toh sirf woh aur Vikram the... yeh tasveer kisne khinchi?

Peechhe se ek aur message aaya:

"Mera jawab nahi dogi? Puraani aadat hai na aapki... jab bhi koi khatra samne aata hai, aap chupchaap sab sehti rehti hain aur akele mein ghabrati hain. Yaad hai na 6 saal pehle kya hua tha? Jab aapne pehli baar ek sach chhupaya tha?"

6 Saal Pehle?

Yeh lafz padhte hi Sonam ke pairon tale zameen nikal gayi. Uska rom-rom kaamp utha. Yeh blackmailer sirf Vikram ke saath hui mulaqat ko hi nahi jaanta tha... balki woh Sonam ke ateet (past) ke uss gehre raaz ko bhi jaanta tha jise Sonam ne apni aatma ke sabse chhupaye hue kone mein dafn kar diya tha!

Sonam ne rasoi ke slabh ko dono haathon se pakad liya. Uska saans phoolne laga.

[PART 2: ATEET (FLASHBACK) — PEHLA SAAYA, PEHLI CHUPPI]
(Saal 2020 — Sonam ke shaadi ke shuruati din)

Shaadi ke shuruati mahino mein, Sonam ke pati apne naye business ke silsile mein akstar shehar se bahar rehte the. Naye ghar mein Sonam akeli rehti thi. Uski sharmili tabiyat aur sanskaron ki wajah se woh padosiyon se bhi kam hi milti thi.

Uss din garmi ki dhalati shaam thi. Sonam apne ghar ke pichhle verandah mein kapde sukhane aayi thi. Pados mein bane ek purane, adhadhoore makan ki chhat par ek naya aaya hua kirayedar khada tha.

Sonam ne jaise hi kapde taar par daale, use mehsoos hua ki koi use lagatar ek-tak dekh raha hai. Usne nazrein uthayi. Uss aadmiki umar koi 30-32 saal rahi hogi. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi gandi aur ziddi chamak thi jisse Sonam ke andar ek anjaana darr bhar gaya.

Sonam ne turant dupatta sambhala aur andar jaane lagi.

"Suno..." chhat se ek dheemi, bhari aawaaz aayi.

Sonam ke kadam ruk gaye. Usne mud kar nahi dekha, lekin uske pair jaise zameen se chipak gaye the.

"Ghar mein akeli ho kya? Shaam ko jab tum verandah mein aati ho, toh mera poora din ban jata hai," uss aadmi ne bina kisi jhijhak ke kaha.

Sonam ka dil dhak-dhak karne laga. Uske sanskar aur uski maryada bol rahi thi ki woh palat kar usse daante ya shor machaye. Lekin uske andar ke darr aur jhijhak ne uske hoont sil diye. Woh bina kuch bole, jaldi se andar bhaag gayi aur darwaza band kar liya.

Wahi uski pehli "Chhoti Si Chuppi" thi.

Sonam ne socha tha ki agar woh kuch nahi bolegi toh woh aadmi khud chup ho jayega. Lekin uss aadmi ne Sonam ki chuppi ko uski kamzori samajh liya. Agle hi din se, jab bhi Sonam verandah mein aati, woh aadmi chhat par khada milta aur dheere-dheere apni seemayein laanghne laga—gandi baatein bolna, uske figure par comments karna, aur uske pichhe sadak tak aana.

Sonam darr ke maare roz akele mein roti thi, par usne apne pati ya parivaar ko kuch nahi bataya kyonki use darr tha ki kahin ilzaam usi par na aa jaaye. Wahi chuppi aage chal kar ek aise haadse mein badal gayi jise Sonam ne hamesha ke liye dafn kar diya tha.

[PART 3: VARTAMAN (PRESENT) — PARIKSHA KA SHURUAT]
(Wapas Present Mein)

Phone par ek tezz beep hui. Blackmailer ka agla message aaya:

"Yaad aa gaya na 6 saal purana woh saaya? Tab bhi aapne kisi ko nahi bataya tha, aur aaj IPS Vikram ke iss 3-second ke sparsh ko bhi aapne sabse chhupakar 'Pavitra' keh diya! Agar chahti ho ki yeh photo aur aapka woh ateet kal subah aapke pati aur Vikram ke Senior Ministry HQ tak na pahuche... toh kal dopahar 3 baje ghar ke pichhle darwaze par aakar milna. Warna aapka 'Pavitra Prem' aur 'Sanskari Bahu' ka naatak ek pal mein khatam ho jayega."

Sonam ne phone seene se laga liya aur rasoi ki deewar ke sahare neeche baith gayi. Uski aankhon se continuously aansu beh rahe the.

Ek taraf IPS Vikram ki izzat, unki uniform aur unka amar prem tha... aur doosri taraf Sonam ki apni maryada aur ateet ka woh khaufnaak raaz!

[Lusty_bOOz]

SEASON 2 — CHAPTER 2

[PART 1: VARTAMAN (PRESENT) — SHAAM KI CHUPPI AUR NAYA DHAMAKA]

Musladaar baarish ab shant ho chuki thi, par Sonam ke dimaag ka tufan thamne ka naam nahi le raha tha.

Rasoi ki deewar se tika hua uska sar dard se phat raha tha. Phone par aaya woh message aur IPS Vikram ke 3-second ke sparsh ki photo screen par chamak rahi thi. Blackmailer ne agle din dopahar 3 baje pichhle darwaze par aane ko kaha tha.

Sonam ne deep breath liya, apna chehra paani se dhoya aur pati ke aane se pehle phone ko silent karke safe lock mein daal diya.

"Sonam? Chai ban gayi kya?" verandah se pati ki aawaaz aayi.

"Haan, bas do minute mein laati hoon," Sonam ne apni aawaaz ki ghabrahat ko dabaate hue kaha.

Thali mein chai ke cups rakhte hue Sonam ki ungliyan kaamp rahi thi. Purane college ke dino ka woh Ashok peon wala incident aur uske baad ki ghatnayein uske dimaag mein tezz roshni ki tarah ghoomne lagin. Tab bhi usne apni maryada aur swabhimaan ke liye kadam uthaya tha... par aaj sawaal sirf uska nahi, IPS Vikram ke career aur unke pavitra rishte ka tha.

[PART 2: ATEET (FLASHBACK) — PEON ASHOK KE BAAD KA NAYA KHATRA]
(Saal 2020 — Shaadi ke pehle saal ka aakhri mahina)

College ke dino mein Ashok peon wale mamle ko apne advocate pita ki madad se khatam karwaane ke baad, Sonam ko laga tha ki uski zindagi mein ab sukoon hai. Par shaadi ke baad jab pati business trips par rehte the, tab ek doosra saaya uske pichhe pad gaya tha.

Ghar ke pichhle hissed mein bani jhariyon ke paas roz shaam ek anjaan ladka cycle khadi karke baithta tha. Woh Ashok ki tarah sidha saamne aakar badtameezi nahi karta tha, balki Sonam ke har chhotey kaam par nazar rakhta tha.

Ek shaam jab Sonam kachra phenkne bahar aayi, toh uss ladke ne dheere se ek kagaz ka tukda uske pairon ke paas pheka.

Kagaz par likha tha:

"Tumhare pati shehar mein nahi hain... aur tumhara yeh roz shaam ko khidki par aana bataata hai ki tum kitni akeli ho."

Sonam ne woh kagaz turant phad kar phenk diya tha. Usne soch tha ki agar woh dhyan nahi degi toh woh chala jayega. Woh uss raat ghar ke andar aakar chain ki saans lene lagi thi ki chalo, usne koi javab nahi diya aur darwaza band kar liya.

Par Sonam yeh nahi jaanti thi ki uski woh silence aur uss kagaz ko chupchaap phad kar phenkna hi uss saaye ko haunsla de gaya tha. Woh ladka jaan gaya tha ki Sonam shor nahi machayegi aur iss baat ko apne parivaar se chhupayegi!

[PART 3: VARTAMAN (PRESENT) — KAUN HAI WOH BLACKMAILER?]
(Wapas Present Mein)

Raat ke 10 baje. Ghar mein sab so chuke the.

Sonam apne kamre ki khidki ke paas khadi bahar andhere mein dekh rahi thi. Baarish ke baad ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Tabhi uske silent phone par ek aur vibration hui.

Sonam ne kaampte haathon se phone khola.

Message mein ek audio clip thi. Sonam ne earphone lagaya aur play kiya.

Audio mein Vikram ki aawaaz thi—woh 3 second ka sparsh karte waqt jo Vikram ne halki saans chhodte hue aatmik roop se kaha tha: "Sonam... yeh sparsh hamari aatmaon ka hai."

Audio ke baad ek text message aaya:

"Pehchana iss aawaaz ko? IPS Vikram ki yeh personal recording aur tumhari yeh photo... agar chahti ho ki kal yeh SP Office aur tumhare pati ke email par na jaye, toh kal 3 baje pichhle darwaze par aana. Aur haan, Vikram ko batane ki galti mat karna, warna uski uniform aur naukri dono ek pal mein saaf ho jayegi."

Sonam ki aankhon ke samne andhera chha gaya. Blackmailer koi aam banda nahi tha—woh Sonam ke past ke uss purane saaye aur vartaman ke Vikram ke movement, dono ko closely watch kar raha tha!